KPLU Local News
(2010-02-01)
Listen Now:
null
Owner-operator Jesse Buttard says he'll be out of work unless STITA can win back its airport contract.
Photo by Bellamy Pailthorp.
Jesse Buttar is a member of the Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association - STITA. Standing near the King County Courthouse where the group filed suit, he says the recent award of the airport contract to Yellow Cab is unfair and illegal. And he says without the contract, 450 independent drivers will lose their livelihoods.
"We're asking for a fair shot at a job that has been ours for the past 20 years."
Buttar says when the Port issued its request for proposals, it created a cut-throat bidding war, by asking for a percentage of all fares collected instead of a per-trip fee charged in the past. STITA says that violates state law and undermines the county's rate-setting authority.
"We want the Port of Seattle to rewrite its request for proposal and submit it for rebid."
Yellow Cab won the contract by promising the Port 4 million dollars more than STITA. The Port says it opened up the airport contract to competitive bidding after a recent state audit and has a duty to provide the best return to taxpayers. But it has delayed signing the contract with Yellow Cab because of the legal action. A judge will consider the case on Thursday.
© Copyright 2012, KPLU
