Newest Protected Class? Jetport Taxi Drivers and License Renewals

In other words:
The city i.e. airport manager chose to accept POA renewals even though he didn't know the legality of it.
Now being it is the most pc liberal bastion in Maine would we care to guess why he just didn't say "no" while getting legal opinion?
( I note there seems to be a lack of any caucasions involved as plantiffs)
( this where the "looks like a duck........ like a duck....." saying could be recited)

Given the things a POA allows people to do I would question if a local code trumps a state law.

Let's really look at what's on the tablle here ,40 times $800 = $32,000 dollars minimally for renewals that you have already let be paid in two installments a requested accomodation by the drivers ! I suspect that will get eaten up in legal fees very quickly.

Gee. Portland is so entertaining!

This is a no brainer! Who in their right mind would want to return to Somalia once you've left? Maybe they're returning for quarterly terrorist training sessions. If you want to be a cab driver in Portland Maine then show up in person for your license!

How much does it cost to fly to Somalia, round trip? I tried looking it but had no luck.

So they work at the airport, but dont want to walk 50ft to the airport offices and renew? Give me a break. Clearly something else is going on here. Doesn't pass the smell test.

No doubt it's free like everything else is to all the freeloaders.

Snow - if you're referring to the license cost, the article states it's $800 total, per year - charged in two installments of $400 per year.

if you're talking about the airline tickets - I got nuthin.'

The Somali taxi drivers have learned from the same day voting debate. Claim oppression, suppression, and depression. And throw in repression too.

The next sure thing will be hepression and shepression.

(I hear it's on the slate for the next round of Dr. Phil shows).

We have to show up in person to get a drivers licence.
It seems to me it would cost more to hire a lawyer to get your cab licence than you would make driving the taxi in the time it takes to get it yourself.

I am surpirsed by the reaction....

You have a group of people who want to work - who are being hasseled because they need to show up in person to pay a tax/license fee--TWICE A YEAR.

So---I am just asking - do any of you have to show up to pay a fee in person if you are self employed?

Anyone?

I never have---and I have owned my business for a long time.

Think about it---the same city that does not think people should have to prove they are who they say they are -- to vote...

The same city, who's residents overwhelmingly favor a welfare system that let's you live off the state on day one----resident or not----

Forces a select group of people to show up IN PERSON twice a year to keep their job.

Looks to me like if you want to work---the city makes life tougher. No one has a problem with that?

As for the anti-somalia innuendo- bigot -- is the word that comes to mind.

Like I said---surprised by the reaction of some in here.

Get a grip:

Immigrants sue city over taxi license policy
The Somalian plaintiffs argue that far-off families make it hard to always be present to renew permits.

By Ann S. Kim akim@mainetoday.com Staff Writer

PORTLAND — Eleven airport taxi owners and drivers from Somalia suing ...over...new policy

Maybe you should take your bigotry charges to the mainetoday newsroom.

What would you have us do, call them Frenchmen?

The article states that the city's legal counsel found the POA for taxi license renewals wasn't legal under the city code. That means any taxi drivers/owners, not just the ones at the jetport.

It sounds as if the city was trying to be lenient, and found out what they were doing wasn't permissible. Should they keep doing it, regardless?

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From the article:

The city's legal analysis concluded that the permits are not transferable through powers of attorney under the city code.

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In the article, city spokeswoman Clegg also stated the city will work with people who have difficulties with the in-person process, if the city is notified in advance.

In addition, Clegg stated that the taxi owners and drivers themselves requested the twice-yearly payments, to make the cost easier to bear.

You have a group of people who want to work - who are being hasseled because they need to show up in person to pay a tax/license fee--TWICE A YEAR.

The taxi drivers requested the payment two times a year vs one. Its likely you can pay for the full year, but you still have to show up in person.

What airline flies to Somalia?

How many people took time to go to "city hall" , town office to get a hunting license last month?
I don't think they were dis-enfranchised at all.

Now consider,,,,, " you can go visit family in Samalia but it hurts your business to go to city hall for an hour?" (or less)

Imagine a doctor protesting an exam to get his license with the arguement that it takes away from the time he could be treating patients.

In order to renew my USCG Merchant Mariner License I had to show up in person, no license no work. I agree something does not smell right.

I take this to be a hopeful sign of assimilation. Nobody in Somalia ever thought of feathering their nest by suing the authorities or crying oppression.

wow.

Nice to see the AsMaineGoes crowd so deferential to city hall authorities....
Enamored with requiring men to report to the government in person to co continue working...
Supportive of the notion that the city gets to pick a number of people allowed to work in a particular field...

So--let me repeat.....
No id to vote.
No id to collect welfare
But---You have to show up in person to keep a license to work and the government gets to say how many can work in your job.

And the regulars in here can't jump in quick enough to justufy that system.

Oh...and one more thing....this requirement is not a license....it is a business tax.

I meant that we probably pay for their airline expences to and from. If they got time to take off and fly around the world they got time to go to city hall. And.....Tardus show how unbiggoted you are and go there and hire them all to work in your buisness. Just because people have an opinion doesn't make them a bigot, but....bigots are usually the first to cry bigot.

Delta has a sale on flights to Ethiopia for $1,419 round trip.

What does one get for the license fee? Is the $800 supposed to cover the administrative costs (I doubt it cost s much)

It is a tax.

Why does any government agency get to say who can do what kind of work?

What is more biggoted not doing something because of the persons color,or doing something because you are afraid if you do not ,the applicants being minorities, that you will offend their sensibilities and not knowing the legality of what you are doing to begin with?

We all know the answer to that one!!!!

If one reviewed the history of airport taxis one would find two valid reasons for limiting numbers,the first was conflicts between drivers that were getting nasty and available parking for taxis !!!

Given the post 911 Security steps that have been taken it would be reasonable to see why the taxi drivers need to be indentified and on file. The last time I flew out of Portland the PA system announces that you can’t leave your car parked in front of the loading area.

The front of the terminal is a restricted area.

Snowwalker - I'll just put you down as a big government --nanny state ---devotee....

By the way - you'll be happy to know I do employee people -and I have also hired cab drivers as well...and I'm guessing they were Somalis -I didn't ask.

I'll the regulatory supporters caucus get back to posting in this thread.....

Regulations are bad enough but what really makes them worse is when idiots attempt to circumvent them for very questionable reasons.

Snowwalker - I'll just put you down as a big government --nanny state ---devotee.... ~Tardus

Tardus, then I'll just put you down as someone with no regard to current law or common sense...since you decided to label people.

This isn't that hard to figure out and completely makes sense. There are many things we have to show our ID (in person) for, and just because they were given a pass in the past, does not mean it will continue in the future, especially since it was deemed illegal to do in the first place.

If they don't like it, the don't have to abide by it, but it also means they don't get to renew their license.

WOW, personal accountability...what a concept!

I can't believe the race and bias cards were played this early, usually it takes some time to drag them out.

I'll just put you down as a big government --nanny state ---devotee.... ~Tardus

...and I'll put you down as a man that talks like a man with a paper @%&hole... ~Snowalker

Wow , the last job I got I had to apply in person , show ID , SS card , pass a drug test AND pass a back ground check to sell firearms AND THEY ARE COMPLAINING...LOL...

Tar:
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So--let me repeat.....
No id to vote.
No id to collect welfare
But---You have to show up in person to keep a license to work and the government gets to say how many can work in your job.

And the regulars in here can't jump in quick enough to justufy that system.
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You drew the wrong conclusion, cowboy.

I say require an ID to vote, require an ID to collect welfare.

I have to buy a license to own a dog. I have to pay property taxes to keep my house and live in it.

I'll cut the taxi drivers a break when I no longer have to pay property taxes.

And ditto on the 911 side of this. When you jump into a car driven by someone you don't know and have never seen before, as a commercial transaction, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect some form of licensure/ID record.

I'd like my doctors to have a degree and a certification as well.