Save Yellow Cab & Executive Transportation

To:  Philadelphia Parking Authority

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) has created regulations that could, and will change the Taxicab and Limousine industry in Philadelphia, and the surrounding suburbs dramatically. Although these regulations might have been developed and implemented with the best of intentions, the resulting consequences of some of these regulations are not.

Since 1984, starting with just one cab and a dream, we have cultivated our rider-ship to become the most dependable transportation service in the Philadelphia and Lower Bucks County areas. Currently we service over a Million requests annually, and have some of the most loyal customers in any industry!

Over the years we have expanded, grown, and developed different ideas and business models to accommodate our rider’s needs and desires. Currently we own and operate Yellow Cab of Philadelphia, Executive Transportation d/b/a Luxury Sedan Service, and Academy Taxi of Lower Bucks County, operating under the number 215-333-3333.

For over two decades we have been there for you, now we need your help!

As you read this petition we are being faced with the possibility of being forced out of business because of regulations and initiatives of the PPA. Not only will over 150 drivers, and over 30 office staff be out of work, their families and you will also be effected.

There are two main issues that we are asking you to sign the petition for:

1. The PPA has the belief that our Luxury Sedans unfairly compete with the taxicab industry, and as such are trying to create regulations that will in mostly likely result in us not being able to continue providing this service to you. In the very least they want it to cost you significantly more to use this service. One of the pending requirement is that they want us to raise our minimum from $7.00 to $10.00, and to raise the per mile charge by $0.50 per mile. This will result in an increase of about $5.00 for a typical 4-mile ride.

They have already reduced our citywide authority in about half. Some of the most distressed sections of the city are now not afforded the right to utilize our service. Some of these sections that the PPA will now not let us service is South Philly, West Philly, South West Philly, Parts of North Philly, just to list a few. Why should these citizens not be allowed access to a reliable transportation service?

Although this type of service exists throughout the country, and we have been operating them legally since about 1989, I guess they feel you the consumer, should not have a choice. Shouldn’t you have the choice to go to the store, doctors, work, or simply out with your date in a means of transportation that you prefer? Wouldn’t this be comparable to a government agency telling a convenience store that they couldn’t sell Coca-Cola any longer cause Pepsi sales might suffer?

2. While in the middle of negotiating with the PPA for an alternative solution to their Hospitality Initiative, without notice to us, scheduled our Yellow Cab members for installation for their new dispatch equipment. Unfortunately, in order for them to install their equipment, ours had to be removed first. Leaving us with no practical, efficient way to continue dispatching to our Yellow Cab member’s. By them forcing us to remove our equipment, gravely effecting our ability to service you, it has also resulted in a loss of revenue close to $15,000.00 per month.

Their Hospitality Initiative requires that all dispatchers now participate in their coordinated dispatch system. Well, there are a couple problems that we have with this.

A) By forcing us to place all of our work into their system, I believe infringes on our Common Law trademark, which ironically the PPA has acknowledged.
B) Their protocols requires that if we do not have a car available to service you in a set amount of time then it would be dispatched to another companies cab instead, as long as you agreed. Considering that we have, what I believe the largest office staff in the industry, and the most recognizable phone number, will ultimately result in us answering phones for the industry without compensation. This issue would almost certainly result in a volition of the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution under the illegal takings clause.
C) Our system was purchased from a well-known publicly traded company with systems operational, not only all across America, but also worldwide. Their system is still being developed as of me writing this. At the time of entering into this contract it was not being used in this capacity anywhere in the country. It is debatable, if even anywhere in the world.

We have even proposed an alternative solution to the PPA, which I guess is no longer being considered, that would have eliminated most of our concerns, and still would have let them achieve a coordinated system.

For the above mentioned reasons the undersigned petitions the PPA for the following:

1. We do not want Executive Transportation's Luxury Sedan Service either discontinued, have the average cost of our fares raised, nor have such other restraints placed upon them that will affect their ability to service us as we have become accustom to.

2. To allow Yellow Cab to continue to use their GPS dispatch system in conjunction with your system to better be able to service us, and to maintain their Constitutional Rights. Additionally, it should be our decision, not a government bodies, on who I decide to patronize.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Save Yellow Cab & Executive Transportation Petition to Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by and written by Edward M. Burkhardt (academyradio@msn.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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