Minneapolis cab driver James Nels Huseby has been hacking for 31 years, and he's got a few things he'd like to get off his chest.
Maybe Minneapolis should put a meter on irate cabbie's phone
James Nels Huseby wanted to be sure Minneapolis politicos knew the cab business is hurting, but he kept telling them and telling them and telling them ...
April 30, 2009 at 1:18AM
So he jammed the voicemail boxes of at least three City Council members, leaving 54 messages in two days for Council Member Gary Schiff.
"It was on the weekend, when I had free minutes," the serial caller said.
Now, to keep his cab license, Huseby may be limited to one call daily to the city, forbidden from calling council members directly and required to take anger management. The proposed deal was approved by a committee Wednesday; it goes to the full council on May 8.
"I shouldn't have abused their voicemail," the northeast Minneapolis resident said, conceding that he used some "French language."
His main gripe is the city's addition of new cab licenses. "We're drowning in cabs," Huseby said. "We're not making no money."
The council is trying to drive down the cost of entering the business, according to Grant Wilson, a city licensing manager. A cab license costs about $10,000 -- half the price it was a few years ago.
After leaving lengthy and repeated voicemails for Council Member Diane Hofstede last year, Huseby was warned he could lose his license.
He responded by peppering Schiff with messages.
Asked for comment Wednesday, Huseby said: "I could go on with you for days."
STEVE BRANDT
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