Could limited taxi serve permits in Eagle River help local business

Here is the truth about what would happen if the Anchorage Transportation Commission were to issue limited taxi service permits for business in Eagle River and Chugiak.  As a taxi cab dispatcher for seven years their is not enough steady business in the area to make a profit without having to pick up trip in the rest of the Anchorage bowl to make an income.  Remember most taxi drivers have to pay lease, gas and insurance.  Taxi is not a charity.  A business does not survive if can not make a profit.  Bars in Eagle River and Chugiak to get their customers together should come up with a ride share program.  Senior Citizens and the disable could lobby their assembly members currently Debbie Ossainder and Bill Starr to get a van pool together with the assisted living homes to get their customers to appointment.  Taxi permits in Eagle River and Chugiak are not cost effective and will not make any money it is a failed idea.  Their is not 24 hour taxi business in Eagle River and Chugiak area to maintain one or one would already be established.  Even the Eagle River Shuttle can not stay afford to stay in Eagle River all the time just ask the owner he will tell you.  Recently a non licensed cab driver Megan Patrick tried offering free rides using her illegal gypsy cab service known as AK E-cab she says could not make a profit trying doing this.  If this was to happen Eagle River permits must be able to pick up in the Anchorage bowl if the current Boston Marathon tragedy has taught us anything we are one Anchorage not individual neighborhoods otherwise we should have permit serve only the area the permit owner lives.  By the way I believe since my Washington State vacation in 2008 in Spokane that the free enterprise system should prevail you more taxis better competition why can not someone like David O'Malley or a Will Merritt be able to own a permit even in the current Anchorage Taxi Ordinance 36 which I have read which needs some surgery you can go to the Anchorage Transportation Commission at 7:30pm on Monday, April 22nd, 2013 and the author of this blog will be their to testify and give copies of the actual testimony to all the comissioners and the transportation inspection.  Please show up if you want allow the freedom of the free enterprise instead of the taxi cab owner who are making more money on their permit and creating a cash cow.  If you believe in free enterprise and allowing more ownership of cab permits allow the industry to grow versus the top heavy argument.  

Anchorage needs another grocery chain

Anchorage for the past 13 years has really only had one grocery chain here.  Carrs Quality Centers owned by Safeway.  Yes, Alaska Marketplace was up in Alaska for a time.  Safeway choose the locations it was doomed to fail from the start.  Most state when a chain buy a group of stores the state decides the stores it must sell not in Alaska they let Safeway decide.  Whole Foods and Albertson's please come to Alaska we need real competition because grocery prices by Safeway monopoly have double and tripled due to lack of competition not due to being remote to the rest of the country.