Freeholders Have No Business in the Taxi Cab Business

To the Editor:
I am writing you with deep concerns in regards to the Cape Cay County actions involving the Fare Free Bus on Feb. 22, and March 1 at the U.S. Coast Guard base.
Lately the local taxicabs have been shut out from picking up Coast Guard recruits at the base for their Saturday Liberty. This is my 15th year of service and dedication of picking up recruits and making sure that they are back on base on time from their Liberty. Driving for many of the local cab companies over the years, the premise is still the same. The blatant disregard shown by the county’s actions clearly shows that those in charge do not care about the taxi companies involved, in addition a picture is created clearly showing that the county does not and is not interested in resolving the issues concerning the taxi industry in Cape May County.
Furthermore, on March 1 the Fare Free buses did not give the Coast Guard recruits instructions on getting them back to base. Panic and anxiety were avoided because it was all the local taxicabs that made sure, as usual, that the recruits made it back to the Coast Guard base on time.
Blind-sided by the county’s actions, it is shocking to learn they can just take charge of taking away our livelihoods from us. Reasons that were given to us at the gate the last two Saturdays are lame excuses for what has been transpiring at the Coast Guard base. In other words, a few bad apples should not cause the whole bushel to go bad.
What are the Cape May County Freeholders thinking when they use using taxpayer money for picking up U.S. Coast Guard recruits? The people can’t use Fare Free Buses on the weekends. Is this idea a personal act on behalf of the Cape May County Freeholders? It is very scary that they also can suddenly just pull the plug on our livelihoods in these challenging economic times. Life is hard enough trying to play by the rules when the county has not wanted to amend the rues of the playing field. Seems as if the county all of a sudden wants the glory for what the taxis have been doing for many, many years.
It is my understanding that in Cape May County a taxicab must have $300,000,000 coverage for liability insurance. Taxicabs here pay up to ten times the liability insurance needed here than the rest of the state. The farther north you go the less liability you need.
Being that there are no Cape May County Taxi Industry Standards, it only causes the people of Cape May County to be more confused and sometimes, with adverse reactions. It’s the people that suffer. When the people call for a taxi, all they want is a ride, How simple is that? The county’s actions have been outrageous in this matter.
BOB WHITE
Court House