Why is Colorado Government Against Jobs?

Didn't see this one coming ...


Down, but not out ... Cut me, Mick!

Voting 2-1 against a group of independent businessmen seeking to start a new Denver taxi company, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 23 slammed the door on new competition and backed existing companies that set higher rates and require drivers to pay up to $900 or more each week just to drive.

Commissioners at an afternoon hearing voted to uphold the ruling of an administrative judge, who earlier this year decided that the drivers of Mile High Cab were competent and had a workable business model, but their entry into the market could hurt the profits of existing cab companies. That would include Denver's largest company, Metro, and another company, Yellow, which is part of a multibillion-dollar French conglomerate, Veolia, that also owns the SuperShuttle airport vans and provides drivers for RTD.

In a time when unemployment is high, PUC Commissioners Matt Baker and James Tarpey voted to block drivers who sought to create 150 new jobs in Denver wtih no government assistance. Chairman Ron Binz stood alone and voted against the measure blocking the judge from reconsidering Mile High Cab's case.

Mile High Cab, is down but not out. Attorney Tom Russell is reviewing the decision, and will help Mile High's Board of Directors decide on the next step in their fight.

Front Page News, Read All About It ...

Denver Daily News all over Mile High Cab story ...

Today's Denver Daily News isn't letting up on the Public Utilities Commission. Once again, the daily paper is all over the story. Reporter Peter Marcus is digging in to why the state of Colorado is blocking investors from creating new jobs and offering consumers lower prices and better service.

It's  a solid story and got top billing in the issue.

Here's some of what Marcus wrote:

Taxi battle still alive?

Drivers looking to open a new company hope for positive PUC appeal

Peter Marcus, DDN Staff Writer

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 

A group of immigrant taxi drivers seeking to open their own company say their appeal is still alive.

The Public Utilities Commission today will reconsider several motions concerning whether Mile High Cab can operate in the Denver metro area.

A proposal by Mile High Cab to open a new company was rejected by an administrative-law judge in August. The judge ruled that the new company would damage existing local cab companies. The group unsuccessfully lobbied the PUC to overturn the ruling.

But PUC commissioners today are expected to consider several motions, including whether to force existing cab companies to provide financial records indicating that they can’t absorb additional competition, according to Tom Russell, an attorney representing the group of drivers.

Russell is curious to see existing companies’ financial records and compare any impacts that may have been felt when Union Taxi was able to open in 2009 as a cooperative. Russell says if the issue is really about competition, then existing cab companies should provide records that indicate that a new company would saturate the market and crush the existing companies ...

... The issue has also been politicized, with several politicians and lobbyists weighing in over the past two years, especially over the last several months. Gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo sided with the cab drivers, while Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper agreed that the new company would damage existing cab companies and saturate the Denver market.

Mile High Cab has now targeted Denver mayoral candidate Michael Hancock who has testified in opposition of the new company. Russell has also shown campaign finance documents that show that Councilman Hancock has accepted campaign contributions from Metro Taxi officials. He expects Hancock to receive similar donations from Metro in the upcoming mayoral election.

Read the entire story at the Denver Daily News, here.

Back to the PUC!

Mile High Cab goes back to the commission ...

The commissioners of the PUC are expected to hear arguments at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, from Mile High Cab and other cab companies as the case winds its way back through the system.

Be there (1560 Broadway, Hearing Room A) and show your support for the drivers of Mile High Cab!

puchearingthisweek

Michael Hancock Repays Metro Taxi

Councilman Michael Hancock is Running for Mayor of Denver ...

But we know Councilman Michael Hancock in another way: As someone who testified on behalf of Metro Taxi, arguing against Mile High Cab ... Councilman Hancock testified, under oath, that there are too many cabs on the street already. His testimony helped Metro Taxi. Funny, because Metro Taxi also helped Councilman Michael Hancock, by donating thousands of dollars to his campaign coffers before Councilman Michael Hancock went to the PUC to testify.

Did money influence Councilman Michael Hancock?

You be the judge. Here's a short film, an animated version of Councilman Michael Hancock's actual testimony at the PUC. This is all taken from the transcripts .... enjoy!

Let's Get to Work: All Of Us!

Congratulations to our new Governor!

Congratulations to our new Governor-Elect John Hickenlooper. Mile High Cab has been happy to hear him talking our language: jobs.

The new Governor-in-waiting told Colorado Public Radio that job creation is job one.

Hickenlooper: "The best thing government
can do for business is get out of the way!"

And here's what he said in his victory address:

"The political campaign is over and the business of putting Colorado back to work begins.

"We will implement a jobs plan that starts with economic development at the grass roots level, empowering local communities by starting with their vision of what works best and building on that vision to make Colorado a national center for innovation in every field from agriculture to energy and technology.

"We want every talented person who wants to open a business to think: "Colorado -- that's where the innovative talent is. That's where I want to live. That's where I want to grow my business.""Now, I know from running restaurants that sometimes the best thing government can do for business is get out of the way."

Wow, we couldn't say it better, and we can't wait to work with the new governor. Mile High Cab is ready and waiting to create more than 160 new jobs in the five-county metro Denver area by creating a taxi company where the drivers work for themselves, not some big corporation, creating even more jobs.

The governor's transition team bears up on those words about jobs creation. It's a bipartisan team that includes former Republican Gov. Bill Owens and former GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer.

Just like the Governor-elect, Mile High Cab is honored to have a bipartisan team of political movers behind us, from Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter, his opponent, Republican Ryan Frazier, Sen. Josh Penry (R), Sen. Ted Harvey (R), Sen. Chris Romer (D), Sen. Morgan Carroll (D), and Rep. Spencer Swalm (R).   There's a bipartisan consensus of leaders in Colorado who want to see Mile High Cab get a fair shot to compete in the five-county Metro area market.

Mile High Cab is all about jobs, Governor. We can't wait to work with your new transition team to help get the Public Utilities Commission out of the way of small business and let the bold entrepreneurs of Mile High Cab create new jobs while offering lower fares and better service