TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! CHARITY RIDES OR MORE GYPSY CABS COMING SOON TO COWTOWN STREETS?!?! CONTROVERSY ERUPTS OVER PROPOSED CHANGES TO KANSAS CITY TAXICAB CODE!!!



Right now KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS are breaking the biggest news out there when it comes to real world transit talk in Kansas City.

Check it:

BIG CHANGES PROPOSED FOR KANSAS CITY'S TAXICAB CODE ARE CREATING CONTROVERSY BEHIND THE SCENES!!!

Once again we're seeing yet another Kansas City hot debate betwixt regulation/safety/free market concerns.



Here's the sitch, check this upcoming ordinance that doesn't seem too out of line on the surface of things:

Ordinance #140028: Amending Chapter 76 Article II, Taxicab Code, by enacting five new sections which will allow a charitable non-profit transportation vehicle to operate within the City of Kansas City, Missouri, revising the definitions and renumbering of ordinances.

Sounds reasonable enough but KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS tells us that Kansas City Transit honcho Bill George is attempting to kill this legislation.

On the other side of the equation . . . We here that the prime mover of the City Hall ordinance is this group: www.itngreaterkansascity.org.

This group is part of a national organization that seems mostly focused on transit for seniors and a somewhat white hat biz model.

We were able to get a hold of Bill George this morning and here's what he started with . . .

"If a church group or any volunteer group wants to provide transit for their members, we have absolutely no problem with it. The difference is that this group is charging people. Look at their website and check their rates. They're in the transportation for hire busienss. They need to follow the same rules we all do or else the City just needs to scrap Chapter 76."

Moreover . . .

TKC EXCLUSIVE: WE HEAR THIS GROUP HAS ALREADY EARNED A SWEET $100K FROM MARC!!!

TKC Reminder . . . The Mid-America Regional Council pretty much decides every civic issue before it gets put on any ballot.

Here's the money line and the real nightmare scenario for Bill George:

"The way they have written this ordinance. Any church group or any not for profit group can decide that they're going to be in the cab business and start doing airport trips and everything else. The city prohibits that now for a lot of good reasons. When City Council tries to carve out something for a special interest, it usually backfires on them and that will certainly happen in this situation."

And so . . .

LOOK FOR FIREWORKS THIS WEEK AT CITY HALL AS KANSAS CITY TRANSIT HONCHO BILL GEORGE ATTEMPTS TO KILL THIS ORDINANCE!!!

First reading is this Thursday in front of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Check this EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT that has been sent far and wide from Bill George attempting to dissuade Kansas City decision makers from pulling the trigger on this aspect of the muni-code:

Re: iTN Kansas City 

Members of the Regulated Industries staff and the Taxicab Industry:

Due to an out-of-town meeting, KCTG representatives will not be able to attend the Quarterly meeting on October 3, 2013. However, we wanted to voice our extreme opposition to the proposed ordinance change regarding the Charitable Non-Profit transportation classification.

This proposed ordinance is being introduced at the request of a company called iTN Kansas City. This is an affiliate of a national company that generates millions of dollars in for-hire transportation trips in many other cities. Their business model is to charge their customers an annual membership fee, plus a per trip fee based on mileage or zones. They advertise that they offer this service for less than a taxicab.

Many members of our industry have met with iTN representatives and discussed their business model. For your convenience we have attached two documents that were provided directly by iTN. The first page shows iTN’s average trip information. They list their average length of ride at 4.97 miles, with an average fare of $10.89 per trip. The second page shows iTN Kansas City’s financial projections. You will notice that iTN Kansas City estimates they will be generating more than $445,000 annually in revenue from passenger trip fees in Kansas City. These aren’t our projections, these come directly from iTN.

In our view, there should be one very simple question to determine whether or not a vehicle should fall under the jurisdiction of Chapter 76 – Is the transportation being provided in exchange for a fee? If the answer is YES, Chapter 76 should apply. When transportation is being provided for a fee, there should be no exceptions whatsoever that allow a company to claim “charitable” or “non-profit” status that exempts them from the licensing requirements and fees applicable under Chapter 76.

We have absolutely no issue with community organizations that provide free transportation utilizing volunteers. We do not believe those types of services should fall under Chapter 76, the “for-hire” transportation ordinance. However, iTN is choosing to enter the Kansas City “for-hire” transportation business. We have no issues with the additional competition they can provide. However, we are adamantly opposed to the idea that they should receive a special classification that exempts them from all KCMO permit fees, inspection fees, driver permit fees, insurance requirements, operating standards, etc.

We encourage each of you to examine the facts and support this position.

Bill George
Kansas City Transportation Group
###########

Developing . . .

Comments

  1. Better title: KC Rickshaw Coming Soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. New company still won't take you to 36th and Indiana...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Id take the new service if they didn't hire any muslims!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It would be a big expense for a charity (or anyone else) to provide cabs, drivers, gas, routine maintenance, insurance, etc. I really do not think it's a good idea for not-for-profits to go into the transportation business. Like him or not, Bill George is an experienced professional and we should at least seriously listen to him. Seems like the thing to do might be for the charities and George to work out a relationship for them to manage the client base and for George's company to provide the services. He could give them (and their riders) a discount and then possibly write that off as a charitable contribution. It could end up as a win-win situation! It doesn't have to be all or nothing if we can be creative!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm with Bill. It's time to scrap chapter 76.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Post at 10:40, brought to you by the kansas city cab industry.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am just jumping on Sly's back and hitching a ride to the White House

    ReplyDelete
  8. 10:48am...Not at all. I'm actually one of the little old ladies that will use the service! I just think we've gotten away from trying to find creative solutions. I would like to see more people working out compromises. I assure you, I have no ties with the cab industry or anyone else. Please stop and really think about what I said...I'm not a transportation specialist, but common sense tells me that it would cost a lot of money to operate it separately.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love how Kansas is first when referring to a city that is in Missouri. KANSAS City, Missouri. Why? Because Missouri is not good enough to be first!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a corrupt deal to me.

    Shut THEM Down.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What happened to free enterprise? We don't need City Hall regulating taxis.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fuck Gypsy Cabs!!!! they are a rip off!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I want to care about this local topic but, half the state of West Va doesn't have water. I've been on blogs there giving my thoughts on the matter.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anon 1:13

    Did you know that Mark used to be a cab driver?

    9 counties out of 55 does not equal one half. I am closer to Pittsburgh than Charleston.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Isn't BILL GEORGE in the cab business? Isn't this a conflict of interest...infiltrating government to get favorable laws?

    WHo put him there? Sounds like yet another ethical problem downtown.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anon 2:11

    Government on all levels is owned by business 'leaders'. Its their government, not ours. Naturally, they write laws to serve themselves. As Lenin said, "It is the function of the state to serve the ruling class."

    ReplyDelete
  17. TKC EXCLUSIVE: WE HEAR THIS GROUP HAS ALREADY EARNED A SWEET $100K FROM MARC!!!

    Proof?

    No?

    No proof. Quit saying stuff you can't prove. That's pretty simple. Because we'll call you out on it every time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Silly bitches. You're debating a minor point and missing the bigger story. You got proven wrong on the Spain junket too. But we want you to keep reading because you look silly.

    Keep calling out, keep reading. It's good fun.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Let me get a hankie to wipe Bill George's crocodile tears.

    This company is a legit non-profit. They are charging riders a small fee, not an annual fee. Their drivers are volunteer, yet thoroughly background searched and insured, with safe vehicles. They will serve a population unserved or under served by Share a Fare and taxis. They offer door through door service, something Veolia or other cabs do not provide.
    This company provides a valuable service in more than 20 major cities in the US. Hopefully, KCMO isn't too backward to accept a great new idea.

    Has Bill George repaid his big loan from the City yet??

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes that's what I want to know as well has Bill paid off the city yet?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Byron, looks like you're doing pretty well at getting the government to pay your bills. Sounds as though you're "well served".

    Somebody find out if Bill G. has paid off his loan...

    ReplyDelete
  22. MARC is the City Hall website!

    ReplyDelete
  23. This city is so corrupt, it's almost too sad to be true.

    ReplyDelete
  24. George is wired and corrupt but he's right on this one. Won't make it out of committee.

    ReplyDelete
  25. 7:54, how is BG right on this? He is spewing a lot of untruths and wrong figures. So please do tell how is he right?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

TKC COMMENT POLICY:

Be percipient, be nice. Don't be a spammer. BE WELL!!!

- The Management