Saturday, May 31, 2014

Anchorage cab drivers must take trips with seeing eye dogs

Anchorage Cab Drivers under current regulations are required to take passengers with seeing eye dogs and children with disabilities.  The only reason a driver can refuse a customer if they are required to physically lift a customer or the customer is extremely rude to the cab driver.  If the customer refused to pay fare to the driver on a previous trip.  If the customer with a disability can not get into a regular cab they must tell their dispatcher and the dispatch must send a cab that customizes to the disability such as a wheel chair that can not fold.  Then a wheel chair accessibility cab must be dispatched.  The cab driver is not required to lift a non folding wheel chair.  Cab drivers due to liability reasons are not required to lift a customer into the cab.  Cab drivers are required to take seeing eye dogs in the cabs regardless of they are allergic to the dog or not due to the Americans for Disabilities Act and they may not take refuse to take seeing eye dogs on religious grounds either.  The dog must be well behaved not attempt to bite the driver.  Most seeing eye dogs are well behaved.  Customer may not be rude to the driver.  Any customer fells the cab driver has refused to take them based on disability and refusing a seeing eye dog may call the Anchorage Transportation Inspector at (907) 786-8525 after they have complained to the manager of the dispatch company they rode in. 

Welcome Home JBER based soldier Bowe Bergadahl

Today May 31, 2014 JBER based soldier Bowe Bergdahl was released from captivity from Taliban extremist.  Congrats for the special forces taking him to safety after five years of captivity.  Soon his family in Hailey, Idaho will reunite with him then if will decided whether he shall return to the army or receive a discharge from the military.  The military will decide what is best for this soldier.  He may also be prosecuted for deserting his unit in 2009 depends on what the investigation they find in Germany.  It is great that he is free.  However,  we have just released five killers back to kill American troops still on the ground in Afghanistan.  Maybe the Taliban will capture more soldiers to empty Guatanamo Bay of its detainees.  Prediction is that Gitmo will be empty by January 20, 2017 by the time Barack Obama leaves office.  Welcome home Sargent Bowe Bergdahl your family can not wait to see you.