jake · 2004-05-15 Olympics at N.Y.C. in 2012? Just ask a cabbie
Olympics at N.Y.C. in 2012? Just ask a cabbie
Scott Pitoniak
Democrat and Chronicle columnist
(May 15, 2004) — To me, the whole thing seems preposterous.
New York City hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics?
Forgetaboutit!
But Jean Neau believes otherwise. And he’s intent on making a believer of me.
As he deftly meanders his yellow taxi through rush-hour traffic from JFK to midtown Manhattan, he sounds as confident as a gold medalist.
”Oh, we can do it,” Neau says as he cuts in front of a stretch limo and is promptly flipped off by the driver.
”We’re New Yorkers. We can do anything.”
”But wouldn’t it be a logistical nightmare?” I protest, holding on for dear life. “I, mean, look at this traffic. How would athletes and spectators be able to deal with this?”
”It would be no problem,” he assures me. “We cabbies know all the ins and outs. We’d get people to where they’d need to be. And don’t forget we got the subways, too.”
I cringe once more as he squeezes off an 18-wheeler. The truck driver, not impressed by the maneuver, decides to test out his horn. It works just fine.
”Maybe they could add a taxi driving event in the Olympics,” I say after the honking subsides.
Neau smiles.
”That would be very cool,” he says. “Sign me up. We could hold it on the West Side Highway, right near where they are going to build the new stadium for the Olympics and the Jets in Manhattan. It would be a very competitive race, but I would like my chances.”
I would, too. Employing a move that would make Dale Earnhardt Jr. proud, Neau weaves in front of a souped-up black Hummer with New Jersey license plates.
Another horn, another finger.
I pray that Tony Soprano is not behind the wheel.
”My biggest concern,” I say, after regaining my composure, “would be security. It would be impossible to make a city this big secure. It could be 9/11 all over again.”
The jovial Neau grows serious.
He was dropping off a passenger 17 blocks north of the World Trade Center that fateful morning almost three years ago. He saw the smoke billowing from the skyscrapers.
He shed tears as he watched the towers pancake to the ground.
”That’s just what the terrorists want,” he says. “They want us all to be scared. They want to disrupt our lives, make us all afraid to leave our homes. I would not worry about security if they had the Olympics here. There are no guarantees with anything in life, but we would make everything as safe as it possibly could be.”
Neau, a native of Haiti, goes on to tell me how much he loves this country, how even in bad times we have it better than most places in their best of times.
He tells me how he came to New York 10 years ago in search of a better life. He says he found the American dream behind the wheel of his cab.
”I spent most of my life in Haiti, but I consider myself a New Yorker, an American,” the 41-year-old says, smiling.
Minutes later, we pull up in front of my hotel.
After paying my fare and hoisting my suitcase from his cab, I smile and thank him for his sales pitch.
Maybe the Olympics in the Big Apple isn’t such a preposterous thing after all.
[email]
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jake · 2004-05-15
Olympics at N.Y.C. in 2012? Just ask a cabbie Scott Pitoniak Democrat and Chronicle columnist (May 15, 2004) — To me, the whole thing seems preposterous. New York City hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics? Forgetaboutit! But Jean Neau believes otherwise. And he’s intent on making a believer of me. As he deftly meanders his yellow taxi through rush-hour traffic from JFK to midtown Manhattan, he sounds as confident as a gold medalist. ”Oh, we can do it,” Neau says as he cuts in front of a stretch limo and is promptly flipped off by the driver. ”We’re New Yorkers. We can do anything.” ”But wouldn’t it be a logistical nightmare?” I protest, holding on for dear life. “I, mean, look at this traffic. How would athletes and spectators be able to deal with this?” ”It would be no problem,” he assures me. “We cabbies know all the ins and outs. We’d get people to where they’d need to be. And don’t forget we got the subways, too.” I cringe once more as he squeezes off an 18-wheeler. The truck driver, not impressed by the maneuver, decides to test out his horn. It works just fine. ”Maybe they could add a taxi driving event in the Olympics,” I say after the honking subsides. Neau smiles. ”That would be very cool,” he says. “Sign me up. We could hold it on the West Side Highway, right near where they are going to build the new stadium for the Olympics and the Jets in Manhattan. It would be a very competitive race, but I would like my chances.” I would, too. Employing a move that would make Dale Earnhardt Jr. proud, Neau weaves in front of a souped-up black Hummer with New Jersey license plates. Another horn, another finger. I pray that Tony Soprano is not behind the wheel. ”My biggest concern,” I say, after regaining my composure, “would be security. It would be impossible to make a city this big secure. It could be 9/11 all over again.” The jovial Neau grows serious. He was dropping off a passenger 17 blocks north of the World Trade Center that fateful morning almost three years ago. He saw the smoke billowing from the skyscrapers. He shed tears as he watched the towers pancake to the ground. ”That’s just what the terrorists want,” he says. “They want us all to be scared. They want to disrupt our lives, make us all afraid to leave our homes. I would not worry about security if they had the Olympics here. There are no guarantees with anything in life, but we would make everything as safe as it possibly could be.” Neau, a native of Haiti, goes on to tell me how much he loves this country, how even in bad times we have it better than most places in their best of times. He tells me how he came to New York 10 years ago in search of a better life. He says he found the American dream behind the wheel of his cab. ”I spent most of my life in Haiti, but I consider myself a New Yorker, an American,” the 41-year-old says, smiling. Minutes later, we pull up in front of my hotel. After paying my fare and hoisting my suitcase from his cab, I smile and thank him for his sales pitch. Maybe the Olympics in the Big Apple isn’t such a preposterous thing after all. [email]Olympics at N.Y.C. in 2012? Just ask a cabbie
http://westsidejets.com/fans/jake/all_news/20040515_just_ask_cabby