Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Rome's Councilor for Major Events, Tourism, Sport, and Fashion, Alessandro Onorato, has launched a harsh outburst against dishonest taxi drivers who prey on tourists, whom he considers "chickens to be plucked." In a video posted on his social media profiles that has gone viral in the last few hours, the councilor lashes out at taxi drivers in Rome who "beat the races," a phenomenon he thunders must be eradicated.
The video's caption reads: "They choose tourists to fleece by creating incredibly long lines. They cause enormous damage to the entire industry, defraud users, and tarnish Rome's image around the world." He adds: "After filing complaints with the Public Prosecutor's Office, I went straight to tell them to their faces, at Termini Station. And I will continue to do so."
In the video filmed in the square in front of Rome's Termini Station, the councilor shouts: "I'm fed up" at taxi drivers caught 'chasing' tourists.
Then, describing the context, he says: "This is the line, right now, at Termini Station to get a taxi. Here are some taxi drivers who are actually standing in front, beating the fares. 'Beating the fares' means ignoring the queue of honest taxi drivers, parking in a no-parking zone, and waiting for tourists to fleece, not charging the meter but charging much higher fares."
Then he addresses the drivers directly: “Guys, there's a 300-meter line, I'm making a video: load people, otherwise move from here. You have to load people or move the taxis because there's a 300-meter line. Enough.” Faced with protests from the operators, he continues: “Enough! You're beating the taxis. Enough! The whole world is taking the piss out of us. Get rid of these taxis. Get rid of these taxis, enough. I'm fed up.”
Finally, accompanying the video, he concludes: “P.S.: sorry for the language but too much is too much.”
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