TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! SHOWDOWN!!! KANSAS CITY TAXI DUDE BILL GEORGE CALLS OUT COLUMNIST STEVE ROSE JOURNALISM!!! CHECK THE EPIC COWTOWN POWER BROKER E-MAIL FIGHT!!!

Here @ Kansas City's most gully blog we're usually asleep researching during this time of day but right now we have EXCLUSIVE, LIVE AND LATE-BREAKING insight into a cowtown war of words so choice that we just had to switch up our schedule.

To wit . . .

CHECK OUT DOCUMENTATION OF A KICK-ASS E-MAIL FIGHT AND SHOWDOWN BETWIXT TAXI DUDE BILL BILL GEORGE AND KANSAS CITY STAR COLUMNIST STEVE ROSE!!!

Let's make it hot . . .



This battle started when KC Star Columnist Steve Rose called out the Kansas City Transportation Group and Yellow Cab in his Sunday Column:  

Steve Rose: Break up the taxicab monopoly in Kansas City

In the comments . . . Executive Bill George responded:



Steve:

I'm extremely disappointed in your journalistic integrity. I just read your story online where you state several calls to me went unreturned. I've checked with my entire staff and have never received a phone call or message from you. If you check with many of the reporters in the KC Star's newsroom you will find that I always return their calls ASAP.

Ordinarily I wouldn't respond to something like this but this is not the first time you've done this to me. If you recall, I called you out on this same issue several years ago and invited you down to my office. I would write off the first time as an honest error. The second time is completely unacceptable.

I actually enjoy the opportunity to debate this subject and offer a perspective that doesn't often get told. Had you bothered to actually call me I would've gladly explained to you that our firm offers an app service similar to Uber called zTrip. We believe we provide a better service than Uber at a lower price. We do not use surge pricing. We offer the option of on-demand service or scheduling trips for later. We also offer 24/7 live customer service. Most importantly, we comply fully with Chapter 76 and are completely licensed with KCMO.

I'm aware of the old adage, don't pick fights with someone who buys ink by the barrel. However, in this case your actions can't go ignored. I sincerely hope you will do the right thing and correct your absolute misstatement.

Bill George
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BUT FROM THERE IT JUST GETS BETTER!!! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RAUCOUS E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE INTERCEPTED BY OUR KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS!!!

The debate . . .

BILL GEORGE INSISTS THAT STEVE ROSE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CALL HIM ON THE TOPIC WHILE STEVE ROSE REAX AND THEN TURNS IT BACK ON THE TAXI HONCHO!!! ENJOY!!!

Here's the Steve Rose response to the Bill George Comment:



Bill,

I have been writing columns for more than 40 years, and I assure you, I do not fabricate. I have my own integrity, which I cherish greatly. I called your office not once, but twice. I was asked what this was regarding, and I said I wanted to explain that to you directly.

The lady took my name and phone number both times, and no calls were returned. This goes back to Feb. and March. Someone on your staff is lying to you.

Regards,

Steve
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Bill George writes back:



"Please provide the number you called.

Steve Rose responds: "The first time I called ###-###-####, Ext. ####.

The second time was a number I got from someone at The Star, but I do not have that number in my notes. I would have to get it from them again."
#########

Bill George offers more deets:



My direct number is listed below. My mobile number is (###) ###-####. Most reporters at the Star (Horsely, Smith, Collison, Davis, Everly) have both of those numbers. All of them will tell you I answer my phone or always return their messages, usually within minutes.

My assistant's name is Jill. Her extension is ###.

All calls for me are first routed to my direct line. If I don't answer there is voicemail. If you press 0 from voicemail you are forwarded to Jill's extension.

Steve, I understand the difference between a columnist and a reporter. However, it's a real disservice to the community to make a blanket call for change when there's clearly no understanding of one whole side of the issue.

Cont'd . . .

I've shared your email with my senior staff. They are all very upset with your allegation, "Someone on your staff is lying to you." Fortunately, my IT director pointed out our telephone system records the incoming telephone numbers for all calls to our main lines.

So I can close the loop on my end, can you please let me know what number you called from and the telephone number your would have left for a return call?
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STEVE ROSE GETS TESTY RIGHT HERE!!!



That’s really tacky for you to share an email between us.

I called from ###-###-####, and I asked that you return the call to ###-###-####.
#######

BILL GEORGE RETURNS FIRE!!!



Tacky? Really? You've claimed in the Sunday edition of the daily paper that I didn't return repeated calls and then proceed to blame it on my staff. You can bet that I will demand accountability!
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This is sweet . . .

STEVE ROSE MAKES IT PLAIN!!!



"I truly understand now how you came to become a virtual monopoly in Kansas City."
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Now The Bill George Comeback:



I don't think you do. It comes from:

Extremely hard work, continuous reinvestment in equipment and technology, an absolute focus on the customer and how we can do more for them, innovative service delivery models, and a commitment to bettering the community.

It's all there. Unfortunately, you've never bothered to ask. I would imagine that lack of understanding comes from the difficulty in figuring out how to transform a mainstay family owned business into a second generation of growth in a new economy. It certainly isn't easy.
###########

OUCH!!!

But then goes on and gets even more serious . . .

Steve Rose writes:



"Maybe it wasn’t your staff who is lying. Maybe it is you, who got the messages but couldn’t be bothered to return the calls."
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And now the TKC round-up . . .



THIS CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT, EPIC AND AWESOME BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE KANSAS CITY RULING CLASS SLUGS IT OUT BEHIND THE SCENES!!!

If you've made it this far into the fight . . . You are a Kansas City news aficionado and want to know how this town really works. Come and see . . .

Computers are funny things . . . This e-mail fight fell into our filthy hands because the Internets is a glorious place. Now, we've talked to BOTH parties at the conclusion of this KANSAS CITY E-MAIL RUCKUS . . . I figure if this is about journalism then you d-bags would be in a rage if I didn't actually make a couple of calls. Truth be told, we respect both of these guys quite a bit because they have made an enduring name for themselves in Kansas City and this is really a tense and productive discussion of how our government works or doesn't in Kansas City Proper. Here's the post-fight take and what they had to say:

The afterword from Bill George:



"You've talked with me and every reporter in this city knows that I am very easy to get a hold of, this is a question of accountability and representing both sides of an issue fairly to Kansas City."

Just got off the phone and Steve Rose says . . .



"If Uber can operate in 75 cities successfully then I don't see why we can't work something out in KCMO. As for Bill, he seems agitated and it might be because of the new competition. Also, and you can print this, when I engage in an e-mail exchange with someone, I expect it to be private . . ."
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And so . . .

THIS IS THE LATEST LOCAL KANSAS CITY FIGHT AMONG THE ELITE OVER A LONGSTANDING TAXI DEBATE . . . NOW MAYBE PLEBS LIKE US WILL HAVE A SAY OVER HOW IT WORKS OUT ON LOCAL STREETS!!!

You decide . . .