Massport head, councilor exposed
By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff | July 13, 2004
Councilor Paul Scapicchio just wanted to give the head honcho at the Massachusetts Port Authority a firsthand look at what a taxi driver’s life is like. But when Scapicchio, who recently earned his hackney license, gave Massport chief executive Craig P. Coy a lift to the airport in his cab two weeks ago, both got more than they bargained for.
The two stopped in for a Reuben sandwich and a slice of pizza at the taxi pool restaurant, a tiny lunch counter at the airport where drivers eat between fares. Now, both officials will be lining up with as many as 3,000 taxi drivers to get shots to stave off hepatitis A.
“I wanted to show him life for Boston taxi drivers can be tough,” Scapicchio said. “I never realized just how tough it can be.”
Emergency Medical Services trucks were stationed outside the Taxi Pool Caf yesterday, manned by city health workers distributing information about the disease.

An unidentified worker at the cafe, normally frequented only by cab drivers waiting for airport fares, tested positive for hepatitis A and may have infected those who ate at the restaurant between June 30 and July 4, according to Boston public health officials.
The buzz for months among Boston taxi drivers has been the Democratic National Convention and its accompanying inconveniences, but yesterday hepatitis A took center stage. As Nasser Dehneh waited for a fare in the taxi pool parking lot, he scanned the Health Department flier on the disease. The Syrian immigrant ate a tuna sandwich at the caf Friday. “I’m scared,” he said.
Some drivers say they want the restaurant shut down.
“The place is filthy!” exclaimed Marckinson Charles, a leader of Boston Cab Drivers United, a group that he says has negotiated with Massport on behalf of drivers. “They have no respect for cab drivers here.”
The caf ‘s health permit is registered to Steve Chance and Henri Mazac, according to city officials. Health inspectors have temporarily shuttered the caf, where they found that employees were not using gloves when handling food and a hand sink was not equipped with soap.
“These types of conditions do not cause hepatitis A, but can facilitate the spread of it, if someone with hepatitis A isn’t using proper handwashing practices or is handling ready-to-eat food,” said John Dorsey, spokesman for Boston Inspectional Services Department. He said the restaurant will remain closed while the department reviews the case.
Hepatitis A is a viral disease that causes the liver to swell. Symptons include fatigue, jaundice, fever, loss of appetite and nausea. The disease generally lasts a week or two, but can persist for months. Post-exposure shots are given in the buttocks. City health officials are recommending taxi drivers get the injections before Thursday.
The infection was the second confirmed case of a Boston food worker contracting hepatitis A in 10 days. Other restaurants where the virus has appeared in recent weeks include a Quiznos Sub shop on Summer Street in Boston, Not Your Average Joe’s in Arlington, a Friendly’s in Arlington, and a JJ Grimsby’s in Stoneham.
Coy, chairman of the Massachusetts Port Authority, said he plans to take his medicine.
“I’ll be heading down to the clinic later this week for my own shot, and I hope all the drivers who ate at the taxi pool will do the same,” he said.
Globe correspondents Elise Castelli and Heather Allen contributed to this report. Donovan Slack can be reached at dslack@globe.com.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.