Comments on: STITA Taxi Drivers Will Rally Against Port Of Seattle Monday http://www.b-townblog.com/2010/01/30/new-year-new-you/ Daily Burien News, Events, Entertainment, Music, Videos & More Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:38:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sukhi Aulakh http://www.b-townblog.com/2010/01/30/new-year-new-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20669 Sukhi Aulakh Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:48:33 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=14885#comment-20669 I am a founding member of STITA and was on Board of Directors when STITA was formed. POS was desperately looking for a face lift and show case for Good Will Games in 1990. Against all odds and hurdles WE stood by the POS. We dedicated our services and devoted our efforts to the needs of the Port. Superior customer service, uniformed and trained drivers, strict discipline for any violation and the finest cabs has been our hallmark. For the past 20 years STITA has met each and every POS request and demand. Our green cabs are all less than 5 years old and extremely well maintained. STI TA drivers lost the ability to service customers living in the Seattle city limits several years ago when the city stickers were taken away. This practice drastically reduced the income of our independent drivers. As it stands now, City cabs cannot pick up fares at the airport and those cabs at the airport cannot pick up city fares. It is a one-way trip for the cab. This practice is called deadheading. If the proposed Port contract is approved, STITA drivers will no longer be able to pick up fares at the airport. Business will be restricted to the less populated areas of King County where cabs are used infrequently. The POS has caused a bidding war to erupt over control of the fares at the airport. The Independent cab driver is being forced out of business. STITA members are proud of the service that they have provided to the many residents and visitors utilizing SeaTac airport. We wish to continue to provide safe and courteous service to our customers. POS, PSD and a few multiple cab owners are the winners with POS’s bidding war and un fair policy. We the STITA drivers stand for fair play, fair game and dedicated service of our customers. Truth will prevail and we stand as winners. I am a founding member of STITA and was on Board of Directors when STITA was formed. POS was desperately looking for a face lift and show case for Good Will Games in 1990. Against all odds and hurdles WE stood by the POS. We dedicated our services and devoted our efforts to the needs of the Port.

Superior customer service, uniformed and trained drivers, strict discipline for any violation and the finest cabs has been our hallmark. For the past 20 years STITA has met each and every POS request and demand. Our green cabs are all less than 5 years old and extremely well maintained.
STI TA drivers lost the ability to service customers living in the Seattle city limits several years ago when the city stickers were taken away. This practice drastically reduced the income of our independent drivers. As it stands now, City cabs cannot pick up fares at the airport and those cabs at the airport cannot pick up city fares. It is a one-way trip for the cab. This practice is called deadheading.
If the proposed Port contract is approved, STITA drivers will no longer be able to pick up fares at the airport. Business will be restricted to the less populated areas of King County where cabs are used infrequently. The POS has caused a bidding war to erupt over control of the fares at the airport. The Independent cab driver is being forced out of business.
STITA members are proud of the service that they have provided to the many residents and visitors utilizing SeaTac airport. We wish to continue to provide safe and courteous service to our customers.
POS, PSD and a few multiple cab owners are the winners with POS’s bidding war and un fair policy. We the STITA drivers stand for fair play, fair game and dedicated service of our customers. Truth will prevail and we stand as winners.

]]> By: Chris Van Dyk http://www.b-townblog.com/2010/01/30/new-year-new-you/comment-page-1/#comment-20370 Chris Van Dyk Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:01:22 +0000 http://www.b-townblog.com/?p=14885#comment-20370 STITA'S contract is up on August 31, 2010. Reforms at the Port, and the way it does business, mandated by the State Auditor (competitive bidding on major contracts) required that this contract be put out for competitive bid. Yellow bid about $8 million more over 5 years, for the outbound taxicab concession, than did STITA. Yellow is not a 'monopoly'--the 379 Yellow cabs are owned by individuals, just like STITA---and are driven by owner/operators and lease/operators---just like STITA. Likewise, Yellow is minority owned----as a matter of fact, Yellow Cabs are about 98% minority and 95% immigrant, owned, and Yellow dispatch services are 66% minority and immigrant owned. Also, the business is not going away----Yellow will be expanding its fleet to service the airport, and is encouraging STITA owner/operators to talk with it, about maximizing their continuing opportunity in the taxicab industry, at the airport and elsewhere. Yellow has simply figured out a more efficient way to service SeaTac, that will benefit taxicab owner/operators and the Airport. Please feel free to call Yellow or myself at 206-854-6127 with questions. STITA’S contract is up on August 31, 2010. Reforms at the Port, and the way it does business, mandated by the State Auditor (competitive bidding on major contracts) required that this contract be put out for competitive bid. Yellow bid about $8 million more over 5 years, for the outbound taxicab concession, than did STITA.

Yellow is not a ‘monopoly’–the 379 Yellow cabs are owned by individuals, just like STITA—and are driven by owner/operators and lease/operators—just like STITA. Likewise, Yellow is minority owned—-as a matter of fact, Yellow Cabs are about 98% minority and 95% immigrant, owned, and Yellow dispatch services are 66% minority and immigrant owned.

Also, the business is not going away—-Yellow will be expanding its fleet to service the airport, and is encouraging STITA owner/operators to talk with it, about maximizing their continuing opportunity in the taxicab industry, at the airport and elsewhere.

Yellow has simply figured out a more efficient way to service SeaTac, that will benefit taxicab owner/operators and the Airport. Please feel free to call Yellow or myself at 206-854-6127 with questions.

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