Archive for November 16th, 2013

Well, that was quick.

Saturday, November 16th, 2013

Noted for completeness: Ken Anderson is out of jail.

Anderson already had credit for serving one-day in jail before his sentence began, however. He had his term further reduced because of good behavior.

I guess by “good behavior” they mean “he didn’t withhold exculpatory evidence in order to convict the wrong man while he was actually in jail”.

I’m not sure when his community service starts.

(Previously.)

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One. Billion. Dollars.

Saturday, November 16th, 2013

Amtrak, the U.S. taxpayer-supported passenger railroad, is losing tens of millions of dollars a year on food and beverage service even after years of cost cutting, its inspector general said.

…

Amtrak’s Auto Train from Virginia to Florida offers passengers complimentary wine and cheese, and three long-distance routes provide complimentary wine and champagne to sleeper-car passengers, Alves said, costing Amtrak $428,000 in 2012.

…

“The Amtrak Inspector General has confirmed that Amtrak cooked the books to cover up food service losses that now approach $1 billion,” [John] Mica [R-Florida, chairman of the House Government Operations Subcommittee – DB] said.

(Hattip: Virginia Postrel, by way of the Popehat Twitter.)

Posted in Clippings, Trains | 1 Comment »

One. Million. Dollars.

Saturday, November 16th, 2013

That’s how much New York City taxicab medallions are selling for:

On Thursday, at the city’s first medallion auction in over five years, the largest bid for a “mini-fleet” of two medallions exceeded $2.5 million, by far the highest ever recorded. At the last auction, in 2008, the high bid on a similar package was a little over $1.3 million. In 2004, the offer fetched less than $350,000.

While the auction on Thursday focused on pairs of “corporate medallions,” for cabs that do not have to be driven by their owners, individual medallions have also attracted ballooning sums. Today, the average market price is more than $1 million. In November 2008, it was less than $550,000.

Immigrants hardest hit. At least, that’s how the NYT spins the story.

Not discussed anywhere in the article: eliminating medallions and allowing individuals to make their own deals with drivers. (Or, if that’s too libertarian for you, eliminating medallions and replacing them with an objective set of standards: say, provide proof of liability insurance and require an annual vehicle inspection in return for the right to pick up passengers for money.)

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