Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Coghill blocked testimony on Alaska Permanent Fund on Saturday

John Coghill, Jr who is a fan of getting your PFD did not like that most of testimony to allow people to keep their permanent fund dividend and is anti SB 91 which has made the crime rate higher.  This guy decided nobody shall speak.  My friends at Rivoli Revue have a message for any lawmaker who decides that you should not get the full amount of the permanent fund dividend you are entitled to and wants to soft on crime.  People can vote them out and Mr. Coghill you want to continue to act this way.  People are asking that you resign after December 2018.  When we elect a real governor like Mike Dunleavy who will respect the wish of the people of the local political party wishes and not chosen a friend to replace you. 

Anchorage Assembly will require a convenience and necessity study before issuing taxi permits

Under Ordinance 2016-124 requires the Anchorage Transportation Commission to issue up to 10 taxicab permits and 5 handicap accessible permits a year til the year 2021.  At the April 10, 2018 Assembly meeting the Anchorage Assembly added that the Anchorage Transportation Commission do a convenience and necessity study to see how Uber and Lyft have done for the Anchorage taxi business.

Anchorage Cab Drivers call for the removal of the Transportation Inspector

Anchorage Cab Drivers call for the removal of Eric Musser as Anchorage Transportation Inspector for refusing to sue Uber and Lyft for taking turf that was never theirs in the first place.  They want the Municipality of Anchorage to protect their monopoly when the truth they want to continue to provide lousy service to customers without having to compete and have a healthy industry. 

Anchorage Cab drivers yelled at Anchorage Assembly members for not allowing them to keep their monopoly

Anchorage Cab drivers lead by George Kocur started to spout out lies at yesterday's Anchorage Assembly meeting on April 10, 2018.  When competition was introduced by an ordinance 2016-124 by former Assemblymember Bill Evans it actually made the value of the taxi permits more towards reality instead of allowing them to inflate their permit values.  It is not the governments job to protect industry instead it is to encourage free market by allowing as many opportunities as possible for people.  More taxis more competition means better rates.  Monopoly hurt the customer and consumer.  Anchorage Voters in 2017 voted against their proposition when they gave them almost 10 years to clean their behavior.  They would rather waive the white flag instead actually participating in competition and making Anchorage better.  Here is a link from KTVA of their actions http://www.ktva.com/story/37928253/taxi-drivers-protest-assembly-vote-with-profanity-laced-interruption

Anchorage Taxicab Permit Owners continue to want to perform poor quality of service


Members of Anchorage Taxicab Alliance believe they should operate in the model above which is like the Model T.  This model is old fashion does not allow for better quality of service.   The actual value of these permits is actually $1425 they actual inflated by bidding it at a higher value.  These permits were never meant to be at over $150,000 they made it that way by keeping a closed entry market.  Competition makes it more of a reality.  Uber and Lyft are driving in the Camaro a faster model more efficient where as the cab industry would rather have telephone and string.  Close entry means lower quality of service.  Open entry means anyone can get in.  Protectionism does not benefit the customer or an industry in the long term. 

Anchorage Taxicab Regulations were loosened Tuesday night's Assembly meeting

Last night at the April 10, 2018 at the Anchorage Assembly.  Ordinance no 2018-06 proposed by East Anchorage Assembly person Forrest Dunbar was passed in favor by 9-2 with Dick Traini and Pete Petersen voted against the ordinance.  This reduces the annual permit fee to $1425 a year.  The starting bid of a taxicab permit will be set at $1425.  It eliminates drug testing unless you get into an accident.  The cab driver no longer has to take a chauffeur training class to become a cab driver. 

Anchorage Assembly pulled elected politican childcare bill

Due to backlash from people and this blog.  The sponsors Forrest Dunbar and Suzanne LaFrance pulled this bill at the April 10, 2018 Assembly instead of introducing this ordinance.  The taxpayers won last night.