Waste of the Day: $140 For Taxi Ride Across Parking Lot
https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/06/17/waste_of_the_day_140_for_taxi_ride_across_parking_lot_1116248.htmlTopline: Massachusetts’ Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program recently funded what might just be history’s most expensive car trip: $140 for a taxi ride of 223 feet. For those quick with a calculator, that’s a rate of $3,314 per mile.
It’s just one example of taxpayer funds spent on “improper and unlawful emergency procurements” while the agency was using $325 million in state funds last year to help address the state’s migrant crisis, according to a recent report from the state auditor.
Key facts: The emergency housing program was originally created to carry out Massachusetts’ “right to shelter” law from 1983, which guarantees housing for families with children or pregnant mothers.
The program has been overwhelmed with immigrant families in the last few years. There were 3,883 families in shelters in January 2023 but 7,463 families by December 2024.
A taxi ride that is 223 feet. That is barely a mile! Talk about wasteful.
