City council steps into cab dispute

The Globe reports at-large Councilor Stephen Murphy wants a six-month moratorium on medallion transfers while and the rest of the council consider the city's new tax regs, which require cabs to be hybrids by 2015 and which require cab owners to ensure their vehicles - and drivers - are actually clean.

The more cynical might assume the councilor is acting now because he sees a rare chance to get his name in the paper. But maybe acting seven months after Tom Menino and Police Commissioner Ed Davis announced the new requirements is speedy in council time.

Yesterday:
Cab owners say Boston effort to clean the air violates federal clean-air laws.