{{Short description|Taxi-focused newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, US}} {{COI |date=February 2012}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Chicago Dispatcher | logo =<!-- Deleted image removed: thumb --> | image = | caption = The April 2011 front page of ''Chicago Dispatcher'' | type =
| format = Broadsheet | founded = February, 2002 | publisher = George Lutfallah | price = Free to cab drivers, $48 for a year subscription | headquarters = 2508 W. Division, Chicago, Illinois 60622 | website = [http://www.chicagodispatcher.com chicagodispatcher.com] }}
'''''Chicago Dispatcher''''' is a monthly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois,<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/11/02/fare-coverage/ |title= Fare coverage - Chicago Tribune |publisher= Chicago Tribune |access-date= 2014-04-13}}</ref><ref name="end">{{Cite web|url=https://chicagodispatcher.com/the-end/|title=The End {{!}} Chicago Dispatcher|last=Lutfallah|first=George|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> that focuses on news and features that affect taxi drivers and the taxi industry as a whole. ''Chicago Dispatcher'' was founded in February 2002 and is published by Chicago entrepreneur George Lutfallah. Occasionally the Chicago Dispatcher will publish satirical stories such as "''Cabdriver Accidentally Picks Up Black Man''" or "''Five Secretly Gay Aldermen''" with the latter gaining international attention.
thumb|left|Chicago Dispatcher's LogoThe publication is produced by independent taxicab drivers and other business professionals with an interest in the industry. In addition to reporting news of the taxicab industry, the Chicago Dispatcher provides a lost & found service for taxicab passengers who have forgotten belongings in taxicabs. ''Chicago Dispatcher'' also publishes taxi medallion prices and a calendar of events.
The paper is distributed throughout the city and suburbs at taxicab garages and other locations frequented by drivers. Drivers have the option to take additional copies to provide for their passengers.
Previous projects helmed by the ''Chicago Dispatcher'' include ''Taxicab Times'', a newspaper for national taxi news, and ''Are You Talkin' to Me?'', a radio show hosted by Lutfallah on WSBC (1240 AM). The radio show gained a spike in listeners after cab driver Mohammed Haroon was killed, and the show dedicated an entire hour to him.<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web |url= http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mourning-show/Content?oid=912559 |title= Mourning Show | Our Town | Chicago |date= 3 July 2003 |publisher= chicagoreader.com |accessdate= 2014-04-13}}</ref>
On October 6, 2019, Lutfallah announced he will be shutting down the Chicago Dispatcher, though no official date has been set.<ref name="end"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/nyregion/taxi-medallions-chicago.html|title='We Were Wiped Out': New Yorkers Preyed on Chicago Cabbies|last1=Rosenthal|first1=Brian M.|date=2019-10-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-07|last2=Schukar|first2=Alyssa|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Update: Lutfallah intends to relaunch the Chicago Dispatcher primarily with a digital presence.
== References == <references />
==External links== *[http://www.chicagodispatcher.com ''Chicago Dispatcher's'' web site] *[http://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-dispatcher-chicago ''Chicago Dispatcher'' on Yelp] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100427034108/http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=41552 ''Chicago Dispatcher's'' George Lufallah interviewed on taxicab security cameras by WBEZ]
Category:Newspapers published in Chicago Category:Free newspapers Category:Newspapers published in Illinois
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