Bombshell

Westword article reveals ugly truth of Taxi oligarchy ...

One of the Denver publication Westword's leading writers unleashed a bombshell of an article this week. The cover story "Mean Streets" paints an startlingly stark portrait of the current Denver taxi system, supported by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Without fair and open competition, taxi companies such as Yellow and Metro are free to abuse drivers, the article reports. Citing an ongoing lawsuit and other legal documents, Warner reveals allegations that taxi company managers not only cheat but also physically beat the drivers who are left with nowhere else to turn.

According to the story: "A total of 21 current and former Yellow Cab drivers, all African immigrants, signed on to (one lawsuit), claiming years of discrimination and abuse. According to the suit, (Yellow vice president Ross) Alexander, as well as Driver Supervisor Michael Rivera and Manager of Driver Operations Wayne Roberson, repeatedly subjected the drivers to verbal attacks, calling them "n----r," "African monkey," "dumb African," "crazy Somali" and "animal."

The article further reports: "Those allegations include claims that Yellow Cab's managers sometimes got physical with the drivers. Roberson reportedly punched a driver in the face, while Rivera shoved one employee in the chest and tried to fight another. Alexander, meanwhile, pushed one African driver over a trash can, swatted another "as if he were a fly," and "punched an African driver until he was unconscious," according to the suit."

So the question remains, why does the Colorado Public Utilities Commission support Yellow and Metro and block a driver-owned cooperative such as Mile High Cab from offering drivers a fair way to earn a living, all while offering customers lower fares and fewer add-on fees? Why is big government against job creation?

"The taxicab companies hired powerful lobbyists," Warner finds. "Denver City Councilman Michael Hancock, for example, was subpoenaed by Metro to testify before the PUC about what he saw as a "saturation of taxis in downtown Denver" — testimony that allowed Russell, in cross-examination, to ask about the $3,250 that Hancock had received from people affiliated with Metro during his last council campaign."

Read the entire article here and prepare to be shocked.