the commentatorThe Student Newspaper of the New York University School of Law Volume XLIV, Number 2 October 4, 2010 New SBA Representatives Martha Coakley Shares Stories, Lessons Vanish Grover (Section 1) Learned from Career in Public Service

Cora Fanning (Section 2) Leonard Laurenceau (Section 3)

Eli Fuchsberg (Section 4) Mark Bulliet (Section 5)

Gerardo Gomez Galvis

By Re l i c Su n ’13 Child Abuse Prosecution Unit at you did but got it wrong.” In ad- Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r the District Attorney’s Office and dition, prosecutors wield a great District Attorney of Middlesex deal of power to bring cases for- The Honorable Martha Coak- County, prior to becoming Attorney ward, which is an ability Coakley Joshua Nemser (Transfer Rep.) ley, Attorney General of the Com- General in 2007. learned should never be abused. monwealth of Massachusetts, de- In early 2010, Coakley made She believes that, “to be a good livered the 14th Annual Robert a failed bid as the Democratic lawyer is to be a fair lawyer.” Fi- Gabriel Cifuentes (LL.M.) Abrams Public Service Lecture on candidate to fill the late Senator nally, in a sobering story, Coakley Sept. 20, 2010, urging NYU law Ted Kennedy’s seat. She reflected explained that she realized the students to become involved in the that although “there are no silver need to recognize the “cycle of great issues of our time. or bronze medals in political races, violence,” when she found out a Recalling her childhood in the there are sometimes silver linings,” man charged with child abuse was 1960s, Coakley noted a quotation because she got to return to a job in fact a boy she had represented by Dr. Tom Dooley, who had dedi- that she loves. years ago who had himself been a cated his life in the 1950s to work As Attorney General, Coakley child abuse victim. She concluded Benjamin Guelfi (LL.M.) in impoverished Southeast Asian has not only worked on criminal that no matter how many people countries: “Seek something beyond cases, but has also dealt with white- are put in jail, “unless we find a Juan Wills (LL.M.) the split-level ranch house and the collar crime, cyber crime and civil bigger approach to how we are two-car garage. Become supremely cases. Some notable accomplish- preventing these problems, we are aware of and be intimately involved ments include pursuing predatory not going to solve them.” in the great issues of your day.” In lenders and Medicaid fraud, filing Returning to the theme of the backdrop of an era in which suit against the Defense of Marriage her lecture, Coakley urged stu- President John F. Kennedy urged Act to defend the rights of same-sex dents to commit to an issue of Americans “to think not what your couples and playing a role in the our time, whatever it may be. country can do for you,” Dooley’s containment of health-care costs She stated that, as in the words spirit of being involved in some- in Massachusetts. of an archbishop’s prayer, “we thing bigger than oneself resonated Coakley devoted a large part cannot do everything, but we can strongly with Coakley. of her lecture to sharing valuable do something, and we can do it Coakley spent the first few lessons she learned while work- very well.” years of her legal career in private ing on child abuse cases. Coakley Coakley often quoted oth- practice. Desiring to pay it forward, emphasized that prosecutors must ers in her speech, but her own she decided she wanted to do some- balance the need to protect the declaration was one particularly thing that would allow her to be safety of victims, while ensuring worthy for law students to re- useful and have an impact. that the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth member: “I think that lawyers Coakley commenced her 20- Amendments of the Constitu- have an enormous capacity to do plus years of public service by be- tion were being respected in the good, precisely because we speak coming Assistant District Attorney process of prosecuting. Looking for people, no more, no less, in Massachusetts’ Middlesex District back, she says that child abuse and we can choose for whom Attorney’s office. She has served as cases were some of the “tough- we speak, and we can choose Special Attorney to the Depart- est cases in the world,” because what we say.” Lawyers, Coakley ment of Justice’s Boston Organized “you were in trouble if you didn’t believes, are in the position to Crime Strike Force, Chief of the indict and you were in trouble if make the world better.

One student’s epic journey to exercise his right to vote. page 2

There’s no Sam Waterston in this year’s batch of new legal dramas. page 4 Gerardo Gomez Galvis Cab drivers, young and old, ruminate on love and relationships. page 4 Children swim in the Washington Square Park fountain as summer Infra officially comes to a close. Page 2 Opinions c& Editorials October 4, 2010 When it Comes to 3Ls, the MPRE and the Impending Bar Exam, What We’ve Got Here is a Failure to Communicate If You Can String By Mi c h a e l Mi x ’11 with any information regarding are adept at researching and in Honors, which resembles the Ed i t o r -i n -Ch i e f signing up for the MPRE. Even figuring out things for ourselves. traditional 4.0 grading system. Together a in my Professional Responsibil- Even so, I think the administra- The kicker is that Harvard never In Franz Kafka’s The Trial, ity class, the professor briefly tion should be providing a little officially announced the change; Coherent protagonist Joseph K. is accused mentioned the MPRE on the more guidance in this area. It instead it stealthily changed of a crime, but finds himself first day, but only in saying that would not be very difficult to the student handbook. While I Sentence... engulfed in an endless sea of we weren’t going to learn how send an email to all the 3Ls list- hope that the NYU would never bureaucracy, never being able to make this kind mistake, I worry even find out what he has been in general about the apparent accused of. As much as I hate disconnect between administra- myself for referencing some- tion and students that seems Join The thing higher-brow than Jersey to be increasingly prevalent at Shore, I found myself sympathiz- law schools, whether it is new Commentator! ing with Joseph K. recently dur- omment grading policies at Harvard or ing a conversation with several The Guy Behind guiding the students through the friends regarding the MPRE, c MPRE and bar abyss at NYU. Right Now! which eventually evolved into a The Guy Behind the Guy Look, I understand that we rant about how clueless 3Ls are don’t want our law school to be Seriously, about their responsibilities in a paternalistic institution (and order to graduate and become a to pass the test. Honestly, if I ing everything we need to do in we presumably should read our member of the bar. Our concern didn’t have friends, I probably order to successfully graduate student handbook to find out Please Join Us. is that we feel as if we are just would have no idea that the and become a member of the about any grading changes). But fumbling around in the dark, MPRE exists. bar. While it’s certainly possible it certainly does not hurt to make You Complete having to figure this all out for Many of my friends feel the that the administration has in- things a little bit easier. With ourselves without any guidance same way. During the aforemen- deed sent something, I talked to the economy in the tank, NYU from NYU. tioned conversation, someone several of my peers and none of should be making an effort to Us. To the unindoctrinated, the asked whether we could take us can remember any communi- give us every advantage we can MPRE stands for Multistate the MPRE at the same time we cation from the administration get. If the administration com- Professional Responsibility Ex- took the bar. No one had any on this important subject. municates about our responsi- amination, which to the best of clue what the answer was. In On a similar note, I was bilities to pass the bar, it gives my knowledge is required to be fact, no one was even sure when dismayed a few weeks ago to us faith that NYU would never admitted to the bar. I say “to the or how we are supposed to sign read the article in the Harvard stoop to the level of our north- best of my knowledge” because up for the bar or what review Law Record (Harvard’s version eastern neighbor and stealth- Contact law.commentator@ I actually have no idea. I have classes to take. We also realized of The Commentator, albeit with ily change the grading policy nyu.edu. heard from others that we have that we have no idea if there are a worse name and a better web- without officially announcing to take the MPRE, and I know I any other things we need to do site) which uncovered Harvard’s it. Because that behavior is as Make your voice just spent over $60 for the right in order to graduate law school secret new grading policy. Two reprehensible as Jersey Shore’s to go to Columbia on a Saturday and become a lawyer. Basically, years ago, Harvard moved to a Sammi Sweetheart displacing her heard, morning to prove that I am all we are as clueless as Joseph K., pass/high pass/low pass grading Ronnie anger towards J-Woww through print media. ethical and whatnot. But as far lost in a law fog. system, but this year it decided, and Snookie (whew, that’s the as I know, we 3Ls have not re- I understand that we are all among other changes, to use a kind of cultural reference I’m ceived anything from the school enterprising law students who new formula for calculating Lat- used to). Why Is it so Hard for a New Yorker to Vote?

the By Jo r d a n We l l s ’13 near the start of school, these that residency requirements commentator Co n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r policies seem to disenfranchise in New York disproportion- The Student Newspaper of the New York University School of Law young voters who are likely to ately deter young would-be Editor-in-Chief I was prevented from be changing residences around voters. For any individual Michael Mix ’11 voting in the primaries last this time. “This can’t be,” I voter, the likelihood of cast- Managing Editor month, even though I have thought, so I called the State ing the decisive winning vote Joseph Jerome ’11 lived in New York for seven Board of Elections. for one’s candidate is very years. While I may (or may The State Board of Elec- low—even in a primary. Associate Managing Editor not) have been allowed to tions advised me that there Given the improbability that Stavan Desai ’11 cast a provisional ballot, the would be judges on hand in one’s vote will determine the process would have been so locations around the state, and winner of the election, the onerous that it effectively that I could explain my situation individual incentive to vote is Staff Editors stopped me from voting. to the appropriate judge in the correspondingly low. There- Erika Anderson ’11 Before beginning school hope of obtaining a court order fore, when the voting pro- Elyse Feuer ’11 this fall, I was registered to allowing me to vote provisional- cess is onerous, the burden Terra Judge ’12 vote in upstate New York. ly. As of less than a week before may outweigh the individual Having attended the At- the polls opened, however, the incentive to vote. In order to Staff Writers torney General candidate’s list of judges wasn’t available. maximize turnout, we must Farrell Brody ’12 Ryan Kairalla ’12 forum at the law school, I “Can this be?” I then thought, strive to minimize the effort Dennis Chanay ’11 Doug Martin ’11 was looking forward to vot- having exhausted the phone required of voters. Erica Iverson ’11 Jennifer Rodriguez ’11 ing in the primary on Sept.14. calls I could make. With that in mind, is it Unfortunately for those of According to the New York sensible to expect a voter Crossword Editor Staff Photographer us who moved from else- State Constitution and State to go through the steps of Chris Robertson ’11 Gerardo Gomez Galvis ’12 where in New York during Election Law, it can be. Although calling (and calling again) the the weeks leading up to the the law provides a special proce- State Board of Elections to election, voting is not very dure for people like me to vote ascertain where and when The Commentator serves as a forum for news, opinions and ideas of members simple—if it is an option in presidential elections, by its to appear and before whom; of the Law School community. The Editorial Board consists of the Editor- at all. plain language it denies us the going to court and waiting in-Chief and the Managing Editor. Only editorials and policies developed It turns out that you opportunity to vote in all other one’s turn to plead for an by the Editorial Board reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board. All other opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of must live in New York City elections—including those for order; and—if the order is The Commentator. The Commentator is issued on alternate Wednesdays during for at least 30 days to vote statewide office. Thus, even if I granted—only then going the academic year except during vacations and examination periods. Ad- here; I moved here from had access to a judge, it appears to the corresponding polling vertising rates are available on request. Subscriptions are also available at a Albany on the first day of unlikely that he or she would location to cast a provisional rate of $15 per year. Letters to the Editor should be sent to the following orientation, Aug. 25, less have allowed me to vote. ballot? address, either on paper or via e-mail. All submissions become property of than 30 days before the Young people are perenni- Based on my anecdotal The Commentator. primaries. Moreover, since I ally exposed to the hand wring- experience, I think it is not 240 Mercer Street was no longer a resident of ing of older generations and a sensible, and so urge the New York, NY 10012 Albany, the Albany County media that portrays low youth creation of a simple process 212.998.6080 (phone) Board of Elections told me turnout as resulting from apathy whereby New Yorkers in that I was ineligible to vote or lack of engagement. I make transition within the state [email protected] by absentee ballot there. no direct comment on those may retain their opportuni- With elections scheduled criticisms here, but it may be ties to vote. October 4, 2010 Featuresc Page 3 Newly Opened Bare Burger Provides More than the Bare Necessities LaGuardia Place Eatery Includes Ostrich, Elk, Bison, Lamb, Turkey and the Traditional Beef

By St a v a n De s a i ’11 and while all the pieces are a bit healthy meat, it had excellent flavor The turkey bacon was not nearly as spicy ranch, the chipotle mayo and Ass o c i a t e Ma n a g i n g Ed i t o r eclectic, it all worked together create and texture. You could tell that the good as the regular bacon in others’ the barbeque sauce. The restaurant a n d El y s e Fe u e r ’11 a nice vibe. burger wasn’t beef, but the Ost rich burgers. also offers a Fries and Onion Rings St a f f Ed i t o r When we sat down, the server wasn’t unusual or strange and made To round out the menu, we Combo ($6.95) for those wanting came over promptly and offered for a very satisfying burger. The also tried a few other items. The to try both without handing over The Commentator food critics us water and a chance to look at Beef Bare Burger Supreme ($10.95) Panko Covered Chicken Strips twice the cash. have a not-so-secret passion: burg- ($8.95) were pretty good, but a After all that food, no one had ers. There’s very little more satisfy- bit standard. They were nice and room left for dessert. However, one ing than a great burger. We’ve tried crunchy on the outside but not of us had actually been to Bare burgers from all over New York overcooked. The fries ($4.95) were Burger on a previous occasion City in a quest to find (and review) also decent, but still standard. They and remarked that the chocolate the very best ones. When we saw were nice and hot, crunchy on the milkshake ($5.95) was solid. It was Bare Burger being built less than omment outside and tender inside. The nothing revolutionary, but a very five minutes from campus, we knew I’d Cross The Street Gourmet Battered Onions Rings nice end to the meal. we’d have to try it (and write about c ($6.95) were a consensus favorite Bare Burger is a welcome ad- it). Bare Burger touts its organic For That at the table. The crust was crunchy dition to the NYU area. It provides ingredients, flavorful combina- and flavorful. The inside was moist both indoor and outdoor seating, tions and varied protein selections, and tender. The onions rings were as well as high quality burgers for which include Beef, Lamb (+$1), the drinks menu, which includes was good, but paled in comparison not greasy, and despite having a moderately expensive prices. It has Elk (+$1), Bison (+$1), Ostrich soda, beer, wine and milkshakes. to the Ostrich. I thought the meat moist inside, did not fall apart on some competition with Five Guys (+$2), Chicken, Turkey and other Bare Burger provides a nice beer had a nice texture, but could have us, which we appreciated. The res- Burgers and Fries right down the vegetarian selections. selection. Their beer list had the bad been a bit more flavorful, even taurant also specializes in a variety street, but we felt that the flavor and A group of six of us eagerly habit of listing a brewery without with a little more salt and pepper of different sauces to go with their variety offered by Bare Burger was walked into the restaurant from actually listing which specific beer it before cooking. a much better option the pouring rain. The interior of carried, but after a quick trip to the The Elk Burger and is worth the price Bare Burger feels very woodsy storefront, we found a decent-sized with Turkey when you need your and tropical, with bamboo on selection. The entire table was also Bacon ($10.95) burger fix. the walls, neon green menus and appreciative when our server told received some Bare Burger is lo- accents and different colored clay us that if we buy three pitchers, the mixed reviews. cated at 535 LaGuardia wall sconces in the shapes of bears. fourth is free. That may not be the The meat was Place between Third In one person’s view, it reminded normal deal, but it was offered and very soft and and Bleecker Streets. him of a “tree harvesting plant in we took advantage of it. moist, which Bare Burger also deliv- Hawaii.” There were a lot of other The menu itself is divided into some liked, but ers, and is open from nice interior touches that made the burgers, sliders, snacks and essen- as a result didn’t 11am-10pm Sunday- atmosphere interesting. While table tials, salads, milkshakes, sandwiches have much tex- Thursday, and 11am- service is provided, take out and and breakfast. The food was largely ture. The burg- 12am Thursday-Sat- counter service can be had behind met with praise. Given our large er was also a bit urday. 212-477-8125. a faux wooden wall that resembles group, we were able to try a variety undercooked, Credit cards accepted. a storefront. The “chandeliers” of different things. which prob- Want more inspired over the tables were made from a The consensus favorite at ably added to ideas about where to dine variety of different items, includ- the table was the Ostrich Bacon its moistness. in New York City? Check ing spoons and glass bottles. The Cheeseburger ($11.95). Although The leanness of the meat could also fries, chicken strips or anything out our food blog at IdCrossTheStreet- tables themselves are diner style, Ostrich is a very lean, (dare I say) be tasted, unlike with the Ostrich. else. We particularly enjoyed the ForThat.Wordpress.com. Page 4 Featuresc and Arts October 4, 2010 Objectionable TV Lawyers Make a Mockery of the Practice of Law

By Jo s e p h Je r o m e ’11 my head. The truth about the law potential to have all three of these the fact that Maura the ADA will preme Court Justice Cyrus Garza. Ma n a g i n g Ed i t o r is that crusaders aside, we aren’t terrible rookie shows in a three-way be facing off against Rob Morrow’s Oh wait, former justice. After his members of an inherently dramatic legal deathmatch on Wednesdays at stereotypical wacky-but-brilliant de- liberal father’s death nags at him (and Behind cops and sexy doctors, profession. 10 p.m. Instead, Outlaw is bad all by fense attorney each episode — you an evil Republican senator threatens lawyers are the go-to archetype for But on The Defenders, we an- its lonesome and the other two are still have to stomach Maura telling a to impeach Garza if he doesn’t vote zany TV drama, and our chosen tagonize judges for fun and gain up against Law & Order: Los Angeles grieving couple: “I love the law. It is “our way”), Garza declares, “I am re- profession is back in force this year trial strategy from baseball games! (or LOLA as NBC would have it) the only thing I am good at. Just ask signing from this Court, because I’m with three new network procedurals: On Outlaw, we quit the Supreme when it starts up after this article goes anybody who’s unfortunate enough ready to change it!” Being the swing The Defenders on CBS, Outlaw on NBC Court to travel around the country to press. Basically, I’m saying I had to be involved in my personal life.” vote just didn’t cut it for Garza, so he and The Whole Truth on ABC. Never to gamble and right injustices. And to do a lot of channel-flipping and Golly, it’s a good thing she’s got the takes his clerks and tours the country mind a new Law & Order! In Los Hulu-view- sexual tension with Morrow. to right wrongs and somehow pay Angeles! Of course, everyone ing in order The Defenders is actually the best off his gambling debts. Consider- knows what they’re getting with to counsel of the bunch. Starring Jim Belushi ing a spot on the high court is most another L&O — so what about you all to and Jerry O’Connell as smarmy Ve- lawyers’ dream, the initial premise the other new shows? Well, the stay away gas defense attorneys, The Defenders is absurd, but the rest of the show overall quality and dismal demo from these has the whole drunken-playas-who- simply doesn’t work. Outlaw is the ratings of two of the three sug- shows. really-have-heart vibe going for it. legal version of House, only the drug gest they may no longer be on L e t ’s Considering both of these guys habit is replaced with gambling and the air by the time you read this, start with have been stinking up television for the crazy medical diagnosing with so I apologize in advance for The Whole a decade, I was astounded at how not asinine legal strategy. Hugh Laurie is wasting your time talking about Truth, which completely awful The Defenders was. somehow able to carry that premise how silly Jimmy Smits is in a had some Certainly, it wasn’t good per se, but forward, but Jimmy Smits is simply show most of you will never see. real poten- that’s mostly because the show seems too earnest to pull off a brilliant I wouldn’t point to any of the tial. Starring to want to take itself seriously. “conservative playboy.” Outlaw is so three as a potential template for a the always- Belushi and O’Connell are be- bad that it pushes toward the so-bad- law school admissions essay. delightful lievable as hacks, posing in front of it’s-funny realm, but then I realized Suffering through these M a u r a their obnoxious interstate billboard. just what I was giving up my Friday three shows made me realize Tierney, The When they’re giving sentimental evening for and cried a little. how TV lawyers shape the general on The Whole Truth, we have drinks Whole Truth has the clever gimmick speeches about caring for people and The bottom line is that this perception of our profession. I’ll (and sexual tension) with opposing of showing both sides of a trial ... in justice, however, I just think According year’s crop of legal dramas won’t be admit to occasionally indulging in counsel (and name-drop NYU!). 40 minutes ... repeating scenes from to Jim and everything not Sliders and airing all day on cable in a decade, a Law & Order marathon — who None of it feels remotely real, and different perspectives ... starting with start giggling at the sanctimonious- and if there’s any TV justice, they’ll doesn’t want to grow up to be Sam more damning, it’s not half as enter- the crime. The result is a show where ness of it all. all be gone before anyone in the Waterston? But when I learned taining as anything Law & Order has everything and nothing happens at But The Defenders has nothing greater public thinks more can be some of my German friends used been doing for two decades. the same time, leaving the viewer on Outlaw in its portrayal of false accomplished by a drunken Vegas Boston Legal as a way to brush up on Until Outlaw moved to the Fri- both confused and dissatisfied. As- righteousness. Jimmy Smits plays defense attorney than a Supreme American law, I could only shake day night dead zone, there was the suming you can get past that — and the titular Outlaw: conservative Su- Court justice. Taxicab Confessions Include Life Lessons on Love in the City By Je n n i f e r Ro d r i g u e z ’11 drivers during rides from NoLiTa to victims,” he declared. With bitter- New York] are just playing around, penchant for scheming. “You should St a f f Wr i t e r Chelsea to the Upper East Side and ness that belied his age, he insisted not serious. I’ve been driving for 26 never play games in life, or life will back to see what insights they had to that in his generation dating has years, and that’s what I’ve found out,” play games with you. You will be- Eleven years ago, Daniel B. offer about the city’s dating scene. been corrupted by insincerity and claimed Tej R., aged 50. come an instrument, not taking life missed a bus and found love. The taxi drivers’ ages ranged opportunism among both men and A few admitted that men, like seriously.” Today, he looks distinguished from 22 to 63 years. They came from women. For him, to take a girl out is women, are not always up-front. “A The most striking part of these in a black blazer, blue jeans and Morocco, Pakistan, the Ivory Coast, “a waste of money,” as he believes lot of guys don’t tell the truth,” said interviews was that, common as disil- a baseball cap while he drives me Israel, India and the Dominican Re- that dating no longer leads to last- Mamadou D., aged 37 and recently lusionment was, hope was an equally from SoHo to Chelsea Market and public. Five had arranged marriages, ing connections. “The old days are divorced. Dahan S. commented cat- consistent theme. Even the men who recounts the story of how he met all of which have lasted over 20 years. gone,” he said. “These days, every- egorically about the male disposition had been hurt the most indicated that his wife. Two have never married, two have body is fake. Nobody is real. You toward transparency. “Who cares they craved a lasting romantic con- Daniel was on his way to meet divorced, and one other — Daniel can’t trust nobody.” about the truth?” he asked. “Lying nection. Mamadou D. was thin-faced an ex-girlfriend for dinner, but his B.—has been happily married for 11 Some drivers who have been is natural. When the first monkey and solemn. Though shaken by his bus left early. Another woman was years. At first, I expected to gather around longer are equally disil- begins to lie, he becomes a man.” recent divorce, he confessed that he stranded until the next scheduled some simple dating tips and a juicy lusioned. Elgouassi O., aged 35, Both those in successful mar- still believes in soul mates. And for departure an hour later. “We began story or two. I was surprised to find remains heartbroken today over his riages and those who still toil on the all his talk of stinky fish, before I left talking as friends,” Daniel said. that, though a couple drivers were first love, with whom he parted 14 market expressed paternal solicitude Elgouassi O.’s cab, he conceded that “Before we left, I asked her to go reticent, most were happy — even years ago for what he believes to be for the young women who make up, despite his decade-and-a-half long to dinner on Monday. She said she relieved — to discuss details of their financial reasons. His face tightened as one driver estimated, 70-80 per- heartache, he hopes to fall in love would think about it and call me that own experiences with and reflections as he told me, “I thought she loved cent of their clientele. They pointed again one day. day to give me her decision.” With on romance. By turns wise and cyni- me, but in the end she liked money.” out warning signs that may indicate The men were thoughtful in one hand on the wheel, he turns his cal, despondent and charismatic, pe- He has resolved that he will never that a man is hiding something. “If describing the kind of woman they head toward me and adds, smiling, dantic and vulnerable and ultimately, trust another woman. “She killed his phone is ringing, and he looks yearned to be with. Mamadou D. “I couldn’t wait until Monday!” They hopeful, these men shared with me love in my heart. It’s like when you at it and doesn’t want to answer it,” explained, “Honest is the most im- went out to dinner the following their personal stories of love. They buy a package of fish. If one fish Elgouassi O said. “When he talks too portant. Then smart. Pretty is not week, and after that very first date, also provided affectionate words of smells bad, all the fish will stink.” much,” offered Mamadou D. In his necessarily important.” Hussain M. Daniel was certain that he wanted guidance for the single women of A sense that the dating world characteristic categorical style, Dahan agreed: “The perfect woman, she’s to marry her. Today he and his wife the city. is a hall of mirrors drove some to S. issued words of caution that might honest. Pretty is the second.” (“But have been married for over a decade As the eldest interviewee, Dan- throw up their hands. At 54, Dahan be of interest to the young women pretty is good too…” he mused). and have two daughters. iel B.’s happy ending came after a S. has given up on love altogether. of NYU Law: “Don’t marry a lawyer. In the end I come back to “I am in love with my wife and divorce and some years spent alone. He admitted that, at the end of his They tell the worst lies of all.” Stranger, the youngest cabbie. Bitter kids,” he said. To the young women But many cab drivers, like many rope with dating, he feels justified in For some, judging a man’s sin- though he seemed, when I asked of New York he said exuberantly, of us out there, are still living in trading romance for the immediate cerity was just a part of intuition. “If him if he had a favorite love song “You should believe in love. It’s the the gaps between loves, waiting for gratification of pre-paid services. a girl doesn’t know a bad guy when his eyes brightened and his mouth greatest thing on earth.” their fortuitous meetings. As they “Going to the Chinese massage is a she sees him, nobody can help her,” flipped into a smile. At first he Daniel B., now 63, is one of related to me their past experiences lot easier than dating a girl,” he said. said Hussain M., aged 54. balked, but then confessed to listen- several New York taxi drivers who and future hopes, twin feelings con- “With a masseuse, you know what But every driver maintained ing over and over to P. Diddy’s “I have been kind enough to share with sistently emerged: the desire to feel you’re going to get.” that should intuition fail, time will Need a Girl (Part Two).” The lyrics me their thoughts on a topic familiar understood and the grave fear of Some men believed that they reveal all. For this reason, Hussain to that song provided a window into to us all: love. Let me explain. being deceived. were at a gender-based disadvan- M. counseled girls, “Hold the kiss. what he hopes to find for himself, Taxis are New Yorkers’ de facto For the drivers, the fear of be- tage. “A woman is stronger than a Hold it as long as you can. Judge if and perhaps what his fellow cab- confessionals. Each day (and night), trayal in love generated anxiety, and man. God gives her a good brain,” he really is in love with you.” More bies, and maybe men everywhere, drivers lend their discretion to drunk in some cases dread. A young man explained Hussain S., aged 50. “But philosophically, Daniel B. advised ultimately desire: “What I need is a dials, back-seat whisperings and the of 22, who wished to go only by a guy, even some bitch, he can’t young women, “Examine the water pretty woman next to me/To share occasional shouting match. I’ve often the name Stranger, has never had a judge.” before you swim in it. You should the dreams that I believe/Maybe we wondered what commentary the girlfriend, but he has strong feelings Others contended that the be able to see the bottom. Do not could start a family/Someone who drivers were bottling up in the front on the subject. “I don’t want to fall genders were on a more level playing swim in dark water.” Further, he truly understands, how to treat a cabin. So this month I spoke with 10 in love. People who fall in love are field. “Both the guys and the girls [in gently admonished women with a man/This is what I need.”