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.

Anchorage Assembly proposes that elected politicians get childcare benefits

East Anchorage Assembly members Forrest Dunbar and South Anchorage Assembly Suzanne LaFrance are proposing at today's assembly meeting that elected politicians should receive a subsidy for public service.  When you are elected to public office you are a public service not entitled to anything except to serve the public.  No benefits for public service.  This ordinance needs to be defeated immediately.  Anchorage taxpayers do not need to pay for elected officials child care.

Kodiak Borough Consolidation would eliminate VPSO's in Kodiak Island Villages

Under Alaska State statues once a borough chooses home rule option.  The Alaska State Troopers are not longer mandatory for police protection.  The responsibility of the police protection is the boroughs responsibility.  Which means Kodiak taxpayers pick up 100 percent of the cost instead of some of the cost as it is now.  Village safety officers which are assigned to each village would be eliminated.  Kodiak Police would be responsible for police protection in each village or each village would have to pay for their own protection.  Larsen Bay, Karluk and Akhiok are unincorporated so the Kodiak Police would have send extra officers to live in these villages to give these villages law and order.  Old Harbor, Ouzinkie and Port Lions would have to either have an agreement with the Kodiak Police Department to cover their villages or pay for the police protection themselves or have the village council or the local native organization help pay for law enforcement for their villages.  Please say no to Kodiak Island Borough consolidation because it will cost Kodiak taxpayers more money to maintain the borough then not be home rule. 

Kodiak Borough Cosoildation bad idea

According to the April 8th, 2018 issue of the Anchorage Daily News.  Kodiak Borough Assembly and the City of Kodiak is considering consolidating operations by expanding the Kodiak City Limits to the whole borough.  This is a bad idea even though it would make for the largest city limits in geography due to the fact that Kodiak Island is one of the largest islands in the United States. As a resident of Anchorage for over 20 years now which consolidated with their borough in 1974.  Which this acts happened they did not envision 20 years later growing communities of Eagle River, Chugiak and Girdwood which get the shaft from the mother ship.  Imagine villages like Larsen Bay, Karluk and Ahkiok wanted to do something traditional but have to ask borough for permission because it is in the City of Kodiak not their city.  This is why back in 1995 most Spokane residents reject the county and city consolidation concept when it was proposed to them.  Kodiak residents please reject this idea because the villages need their own identity.  Consolidation does not allow that.