http://66.225.205.104/JR20110615.mp3
In the next few weeks, three cab companies will receive permits to pick up passengers at the Charlotte airport - and nearly a dozen other companies will be sent packing. The Charlotte City Council approved the restrictions Monday night, but two pending lawsuits could ultimately overturn the decision. The complaints seek to have the airport contract selection process thrown out. Monroe Whitesides represents the brothers who own King/Royal Cab. Their winning bid was disqualified when their felony convictions came to light. "We intend to follow through with our lawsuit and we are confident that a judge or a jury after they have heard all the evidence will conclude the Kashmary brothers were treated improperly and that the RFP should have been disregarded and started over," says Whitesides. The other lawsuit is by two taxi drivers who've long had permits to work the airport. An association of independent taxi drivers at the airport is funding the lawsuit. Their attorney James Galvin says the city council cannot legally delegate so much power to the airport director, Jerry Orr. "Mr. Orr enjoys a great reputation with the city council and the city, but their just implicit trust doesn't constitutionally give them authority to give him carte blanche," says Galvin. "They have to give him adequate guidance." Several weeks ago, a Mecklenburg County judge refused to dismiss the independent taxi drivers' lawsuit. Depositions are now underway of city officials involved in the taxi contract process, which many cab companies and drivers allege was biased and arbitrary. But Charlotte City Attorney Mac McCarley sees no risk in the airport moving ahead with the contracts while lawsuits are pending. "We're not worried," says McCarley, adding there's no statutory requirement that such contracts be awarded using a specific process. "The council could have done this without any process; the airport director could have done it without any process," says McCarley. "What you have is a decision made by the elected representatives of this city." The airport contracts will take effect mid-July, leaving many cab companies and long-time airport drivers shut out of a reliable revenue stream. Many of them are also threatening lawsuits against the city.