This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Follow that cab: S.L. tries to upgrade service" (Our View, Nov. 4):
Yellow Cab does not oppose efforts by the city to improve taxicab service. In the six years since Salt Lake City has been considering a change to the regulatory scheme, Yellow Cab has worked diligently to make the improvements the City Council originally said it wanted.
What Yellow Cab is crying foul on, and what should concern Salt Lake residents, is airport director Maureen Riley's requirement that cab companies pay an illegal tax disguised as a routine "minimal annual guaranty" for airport-only concessions.
Cab companies provide citywide business, not just at the airport. This money will go into the general coffers of the airport. Cab companies already pay substantial fees to the airport.
MAG was never authorized by the City Council when it revamped the taxicab ordinances. It sets a dangerous precedent with respect to the airport director making substantive policy decisions that should be made by our elected officials in a public process.
The extra money the airport wants could be used to improve taxicab service. The airport's unilaterally imposed tax is completely contrary to the idea of improving taxicab service.
Donald Barron Manager, Yellow Cab Drivers Association Inc.
Salt Lake City