New Yorker of the Week

FebTue 2010 Filed in: New Yorker of the Week

Singh Jazwant

Craft: NYC Cab Driver
Lives: Queens
Why we think he’s cool: Laughs when people call him Osama
Where to find him: Flag a cab down, and you might get lucky
Interview by: José

I met Singh while Tim and I were being picked up from the airport on President’s Day. Normally there shouldn't have been any traffic, but due to an accident we found ourselves hanging out for awhile. This gave me the perfect opportunity to ask Singh some questions about being a cab driver in NYC.

Jose: How long have you been a NYC Cab driver?
Singh: 18 years.

J:  Wow! That’s a long time. So far so good?
S: Love it. Love it! I’m never tired of this job.

J: What do you love the most about being a cab driver?
S: I love driving, and the time goes by very fast. There’s freedom in what I do. I don’t have to worry about somebody bossing me around. Sometimes you meet decent people, and sometimes you meet nasty people [laughs]. If somebody gives me a hard time, it’s for five minutes and then they’re gone.

J:  Do you rent the cab weekly? Do you own it? How does it work exactly?
S: This is my own car. My own medallion. Other cab drivers lease from brokers on a daily basis. But the brokers will rip you off. That’s throwing money in the garbage. If you have the money, you should buy your own medallion and do it that way.

J: I guess it’s the same as renting vs owning apartments.
S: Exactly. It’s an investment. Once you pay it off, you can sell it, and it’s your money.

J: What job did you have before being a cab driver?
S: I used to a be a short order cook in a coffee shop. I did that for ten years.

J: You picked us up at the airport. Do you have a preference where you drive?
S: I like to stay in the city most of the time. I live in Queens, so I start from there every morning and first go to the airport. I bring at least one fare to the city - then I stay in the city unless somebody wants me to go back. Otherwise, the city is always better.

J:  I remember the cab strike from a few years ago where you were protesting against mandates adding GPS and credit card equipment in your cars.
S: Yes. We’ve had a couple of strikes. But as you can see, it doesn’t work. Listen, when the government makes up their mind that they want to do something, they will do it. It doesn’t matter. It was a waste of time. I stayed home for three days because I wanted to support the cabbies.

J: Do you have any trouble with New Yorkers giving you a hard time because-
S: [immediately points to his head] Because of turban? Yes, some people will say silly things and make fun. Some people have called me Osama Bin Ladin, you know? [laughs]. Sometimes you just have to ignore it. If you give them more attention, then they give you hard time. It’s best to sometimes leave it alone. Life goes on.

J: I’m sure you have crazy stories as a cab driver, but give me one that stands out.
S: Alright man. Very crazy. One time in my 18 years, I pick up this woman down here on the Lower East Side. She wanted me to go to Jackson Heights. I’m driving three blocks and I can tell that she’s been drinking. I look in the mirror and I ask her if she’s alright, and she says, “I'm horny” [laughs]. I said "OK." Then she asks me if she can play with herself. She had the biggest boobs. Then she starts licking her nipples. Then she says, “Can I play some more?” [laughs]. She then starts taking off her pants and continues. I’m like, “What are you doing?” Finally, I get to Jackson Heights, and I’m happy to get her out of my cab, and I tell her “OK, Miss. Here is your destination.” Then she says, “But I’m not finished!” [laughs].

J: [laughs] That’s great!
S: Yeah, I’ll never forget it. People giving blow jobs in the back seat all the time, but that was a first. Alright gentlemen, here is your stop.

J: Thank you very much.

NOTE: After the interview, I found out that the average lease driver works 11-hour shifts for a total wage averaging $65 to $84 a day. This cash wage constitutes the totality of drivers' compensation; lease drivers receive no paid vacation, no health insurance, no social security coverage, no unemployment insurance, and no pension. This is why Singh was recommending that you own your own cab. This might explain why we often see immigrants as cab drivers. Who else but an immigrant from an impoverished land would be willing to tough it out in this hustle of a business? Either way, Singh made quite the impression on me, and I hope to run into him again.

Tags: Interview, Jose