After 20 years, Port of Seattle dropping STITA cabs
SEATTLE -- After 20 years, the Port of Seattle is dropping the cab company that it set up.
STITA is out. Yellow Cab is in and set to take over next September.
The drivers for the Sea-Tac Taxi Association, STITA, have worked the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for years. Now, the port says it will switch to Yellow Cab.
For many, this is disaster.
"We'll be homeless," said STITA driver Paramjit Matharu. "There's no any place to work. We are 100-percent dependent on the port."
You see, Paramjit can't just pick up his cab license and move. He can't work Seattle streets, because he's licensed only in King County.
For him and 160 others, losing the airport after 20 years is losing everything:
"I'm a single parent with a granddaughter living in my home. I'm going to be forced to sell my house I'm no longer going to be able to afford it," said driver Susan Gladden.
Gladden's mother is also a STITA driver, and also very upset.
"I think they suck. I think that 20 years of loyal service means nothing to them," said Patricia Stephens.
The port says the drivers are right; STITA served well. But it comes down what the state auditor says a public agency should do.
"One of the important reforms that was suggested by the auditor was that the port undertake a competitive bidding process whenever business with the port become available," said airport manager Mark Reis.
The port says it told STITA it would have to put the contract out to bid, and Yellow Cab offered millions of dollars more and some promised improvements.
Some drivers hinted at a lawsuit, but STITA board members say the move would cost thousands of dollars the drivers don't have.
STITA will remain the port's cab service provider until next September.
STITA is out. Yellow Cab is in and set to take over next September.
The drivers for the Sea-Tac Taxi Association, STITA, have worked the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for years. Now, the port says it will switch to Yellow Cab.
For many, this is disaster.
"We'll be homeless," said STITA driver Paramjit Matharu. "There's no any place to work. We are 100-percent dependent on the port."
You see, Paramjit can't just pick up his cab license and move. He can't work Seattle streets, because he's licensed only in King County.
For him and 160 others, losing the airport after 20 years is losing everything:
"I'm a single parent with a granddaughter living in my home. I'm going to be forced to sell my house I'm no longer going to be able to afford it," said driver Susan Gladden.
Gladden's mother is also a STITA driver, and also very upset.
"I think they suck. I think that 20 years of loyal service means nothing to them," said Patricia Stephens.
The port says the drivers are right; STITA served well. But it comes down what the state auditor says a public agency should do.
"One of the important reforms that was suggested by the auditor was that the port undertake a competitive bidding process whenever business with the port become available," said airport manager Mark Reis.
The port says it told STITA it would have to put the contract out to bid, and Yellow Cab offered millions of dollars more and some promised improvements.
Some drivers hinted at a lawsuit, but STITA board members say the move would cost thousands of dollars the drivers don't have.
STITA will remain the port's cab service provider until next September.