Taxi Driver Online

Last night, being a Friday, I managed a night's takings that wouldn't come anywhere near a normal poor Wednesday night.

I heard a radio interview given by Councillor Steve Cardownie, who was waxing lyrical about the benefits of the council inspired jamboree for the local economy. Apparently the council spends £1 Million on it and it allegedly brings in £27 Million for the local economy.

Now, I take issue with this.

First, when the council is cutting back in every area of local expenditure, hitting things like provision of care for the young and elderly, failing to properly maintain local infrastructure and posting huge budget deficits that we have to pay for, is it right and proper that the council, ie us, should be paying anything towards this jamboree? And does the cost of alleged £1 Million council bung include the full policing cost? The cost of clean-up? The cost of suspending tramworks for the duration and the overtime needed to be worked which is required to meet the deadlines? Isn't it likely that the £1 Million figure is just a convenient accounting number, the real cost hidden in the depths of councillors' creatively hidden policy decision costs?

Second, when Cardownie tells us of the benefit to the local community, isn't that benefit directly reaped by local businesses, principally hotels who would throw their hands up in protest at the mere mention of a bed tax to pay for it? And isn't it clear that no financial benefit accrues to the council, ie us, who invariably have to pick up the tab to clear the considerable mess created by party goers sicking up all over the place and discarding litter, presumably watched by expensive environmental wardens who allow them to do so with impunity.

Third, Cardownie lied when he failed to acknowledge that this is NOT the 20th year of this shambles. I've been a cabby marginally less than this and I can remember the halcyon days without the street party when it truly was a licence to print money for cabbies who could pick first footers up in any part of the city rather than having to travel back empty to the city centre to pick up another drunk. Truth is, I would put the start of this shambles around 1998, incepted as a prelude to the coming Millenium and Edinburgh's pretension of being an International party city. So this is just another lie perpetrated by politician Cardownie; but why am I surprised because aren't all politicians intrinsically liars.

Fifth, back to the benefit of £27 Million to the local economy. What this figure, even if it is true - and I doubt it, fails to take account of the is the skewing of public spend into a compressed three days. Folks only have a set amount to spend, so they spend it during those days rather than spread it out before and afterwards. So, we sit with our fingers up our choccy doing nothing during the famine awaiting the three day feast when we can only fit so many passengers in our cars anyway so our benefit is limited by that restriction. Hardly a real feats is it? So, over the piece, we lose out, while having to put up with the drunks who are also compressing their drinking into the same period.

Sixth, Cardownie claims the event is a success. Methinks this is just another political lie. Because the interview leaked the information that there are still tickets available. How so? And if the event was any kind of financial success, wouldn't private enterprise be tripping over itself to fund it and profit from it? Truth is, this event is just a pop concert that could happen at any time of the year, and without the unprecedented disruption it causes to the city.

However, there is a political benefit to this event. And it is how it confirms to any member of the electorate who has a wit precisely how out political system operates. because the surprising thing is that despite the fact that this event is part financed at the expense of care for the elderly and other social provision, there is not a single dissenting voice amongst our elected councillors. Each Stepford councillor trots along with the party and council line and goes along with this jamboree, while those in the electoral Wards suffer through its expense.

Let me say this again, because it is important to illustrate the quality of our government. There is no political dissent within the council, Parliament, or Westminster at the expense of this jamboree while swingeing cuts are being made to social care and health provision.

Oh, and I suppose there is also a benefit for Cardownie and his henchmen. because the elderly and infirm who are subsidising it do so in order that Cardownie and his cronies can massage their egos.

Cardownie said during the interview that he had only missed one during the 20 years is supposed to have run. I could suggest the reason for this but it wouldn't add to the argument. In any case, what he told us is that he's enjoyed having his snout in the trough for 19 years. Which just about sums up the quality of our politicians.

Vote Cardownie. So he can keep his snout in the trough.

BTW The fact he allegedly owns Private Hire licences and is largely instrumental in restricting taxi licences has nothing to do with the disdain for him depicted here. It's the fact that its the poor who subsidise his snout in the public trough.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

The Hogmanay jamboree has never been the same since the council started meddling with ticket allocation. What was once, a party bash for the people of Edinburgh, it now caters almost exclusively for visitors to the city through ticket distribution, predominantly to city-center Hotels? Very few people from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas ever make it to the party. A job well done by Cardownie and his crew, if your idea of the Hogmanay bash is watching the firework display on TV. Personally, I think the New Year bash has been usurped as a networking opportunity for business chums of Councillors, the Edinburgh public end up paying for.

It's no wonder Cardownie hails it as a success, they've turned it into another, you scratch my back... Opportunity at the taxpayer's expense.

Oh and Gusmac, you think this will all stop with independence.

You don't put money into a local economy by having the locals do all the spending. If it attracts visitors, surely thats a good thing?

Following this line of thought, do you think they shouldn't put money into the festival either?

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Oh I see, so the fact that locals pay for it, they should be the ones missing out. There's a logic in there somewhere.

What was once a bash for everyone is now an exclusive gig for friends of Councillors and businessmen at the taxpayer's expense?

Let me tell you gusmac, the New Years bash for the first few years was unbelievable. The City was bursting at the seams. Now they are struggling to sell all the tickets, and it's been like that since before the recession. They've turned it into their own private party, where people like you, are discouraged from buying a ticket.

Oh and let me tell you Gusmac, Cllr, Steve Cardownie has a habit of jetting off to Russia and buying his tarts off the shelf. Read into that what you will.

Well if it really is a beano for councillors' mates, then I see your point.
But is it? or do you just say it is?
I'm a hundred and odd miles away, so this is the first I've heard of it.

BTW we used to have a Hogmanay bash in Union St until a few years ago.
Before they ever thought of having a street party, Hogmanay was the busiest night of the year for a street cabby.
Lifts everywhere going anywhere.

While the bash was on, it was town and back with lots of dead miles but still busy.

Nowadays it's relatively quiet for the street cabby.
People phone for taxis, they don't walk, trying to flag them down. That's more a sign of the times.
Taxi offices actually answer the phone, where they used to take them off the hook. Computer dispatch can handle larger fleets and higher volumes of work.

I'll bet your PH and radio companies are still busy.

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Is that relevant?

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It is when you consider he's a Councillor, and the kind of people he's prepared to do business with. And it's one thing to meet people on a dating site, and another to buy someone off the shelf, from another country.

I think it fair to say. It's quieter everywhere. However, I watch Edinburgh City Center being turned over to a vast majority of people who have little or nothing to do with the city at any other time of the year. Yes, the hotels are full and there's a party in the city center, but it has almost nothing to do with the Edinburgh public.

It's like one big party for visitors and lots of private parties for the right kind of visitors, held in Hotels.

It's more a corporate bash for people that have a few quid than anything else.

What happened to your fourth point jasbar

You go from third to fifth


Also regarding ticketing to the street party

I would regularly attend as a 17-20yr old in the 90s and had a ball but there was a couple of times when it was very dangerous. The year babybird played there was mass troubles with the crowds with many being crushed and trampled on. I know as I was in the middle of it and was pulling people up from the streets and trying to make space for wee lassies that was being caught in crushes


When I ask local people know they say they don't go to the street party, not because they can't get tickets but because they cant get access to bars or clubs and the fact that they don't enjoy it and find transport difficult.

It's the same with many other new year street parties. You won't find a New Yorker in time square as the ball is dropped, you won't find an Aussie at the harbour bridge, as they are filled with tourists

I'm still waiting for you to make your point?

It's far more difficult for your average Edinburgh punter to get a ticket, as there's a limit to how may are issued and most are allocated to hotels. It's simply not a local bash anymore. It was better when you went up to the Tron and then to a pub or clubbing to bring in the bells.

The council killed it for the taxi trade.

Longshanks, Edinburgh was busier before they had an official hogmanay bash to bring in the New Year. The council killed it.

The council made it safer by limiting the number of people who could attend

Limiting the number of people who can attend is one thing, but turning it into an exclusive party for visitors, is something totally different.

It's now an expensive hogmanay bash paid for by the Edinburgh public, who no longer attend their own party.

It should be done away with.

Oh and safety is more about organisation than ticket sales.

Any local person can get tickets easily enough. Just need to apply for them