Karin Dauch and Ling Hung
"I love this town," sang Clever Da Silva, as he flashed a big grin behind the steering wheel. After driving a cab in New York City for almost two decades, he says he has the best job, in the best city, in the world.
The constant smile on his face makes Da Silva an exception among the legion of grouchy immigrants who drive the 12,000 yellow cab fleet in Manhattan. The job is one of the most dangerous in the city, and drivers have to work up to 14 hours a day to pay off their daily lease to the medallion rental agency.The medallion - license to own a yellow cab - structure has been severely criticized by citizens and recently, the government. The system allows medallion owners, who buy the license for $250,000, to centralize the taxi industry and take advantage of low-skilled immigrants.
