Sunday, February 19, 2012

Renegade Aspen Cabbie Back in "Business"

About a month ago, I reported on a 76-year old Aspen senior citizen, Phil Sullivan, who received a 15-day jail sentence for operating an unlicensed taxi service.  After serving nine days in jail, the renegade cabbie is back on the street of Aspen, this time as a volunteer driver for his new nonprofit organization, Free Rides for People Who Need Them Inc., according to the Aspen Times:
Donations to the company will be used to maintain Sullivan's white Kia minivan and to pay for vehicle insurance, according to a “sponsorship agreement” between Sullivan and the nonprofit that accompanies the certificate of incorporation.

Sullivan cannot draw a salary or receive any compensation for his time, the agreement states. “It allows me to operate and give my friends a free ride home, but I don't look at it as a victory,” Sullivan said Thursday of his new arrangement.
Members of Aspen's "taxi cartel" couldn't be reached for comment, but have complained very vocally in the past about Sullivan's low prices (voluntary contributions) and "unfair competition."  They are probably not happy that the renegade senior is back on the road.   

8 Comments:

At 2/19/2012 2:04 PM, Blogger Benjamin Cole said...

This reminds me of North Dakota, where if a farmer wants to pull trailer-houses onto his lot and rent them out to oil workers, the local county government says no.

Local and state governments abuse commercial freedoms as a matter of course. Almost always, local and state governments are captive to local business interests, who do not want competition.

Why do we even bother to license lawyers, except to constrict supply (an idea lawyers like)?

Lawyers strike me as glorified clerks, and now more than 50 percent of law grads are women. Time to de-license, and go to free enterprise. Turn law into the pink-collar ghetto status it deserves.

 
At 2/19/2012 3:41 PM, Blogger Ron H. said...

Ahh. Amid all the gloom, a ray of sunshine. A story with a happy ending.

Justice sometimes prevails. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em.

 
At 2/19/2012 4:07 PM, Blogger Benjamin Cole said...

OT but ding-ding-ding-ding-ding I think a big rally is coming....

Asia Stocks Equal Record Win Streak as China Pledges Help on Europe Crisis
By Nick Gentle and Yoshiaki Nohara - Feb 17, 2012 3:46 PM PT

Asian stocks rose this week, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index equaling its longest streak of advances, as China pledged to do more to help Europe cope with the debt crisis and Japan boosted asset purchases.
Cosco Pacific Ltd. (1199), the Hong Kong-listed operator of Greece’s Piraeus port, climbed 4.1 percent. Chipmakers outside Japan rallied after debt-laden Elpida Memory Inc. said it may not survive. Reliance Power Ltd. jumped 19.7 percent, leading Indian companies higher. Billabong International Ltd. (BBG), an Australian surfwear maker, jumped 42 percent after receiving a takeover bid from TPG Capital.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 1.7 percent to 126.95 this week, extending its winning streak to the longest since December 2005. The gauge has advanced for nine consecutive weeks only three previous times since 1988.

Wow. If the BoJ and ECB and Fed start to want growth, then we see a sustained secular rally.

 
At 2/19/2012 5:19 PM, Blogger Jon Murphy said...

Amazing. They won't let him charge a couple of bucks but they'll let him do it for free.

 
At 2/19/2012 6:20 PM, Blogger Ron H. said...

Jon: "Amazing. They won't let him charge a couple of bucks but they'll let him do it for free."

Same deal with his kidney.

 
At 2/19/2012 7:16 PM, Blogger KauaiMark said...

Go Grandpa!

 
At 2/19/2012 7:39 PM, Blogger Larry Sheldon said...

For those who do not believe me when I insist that it is impossible for a monopoly to form without government assistance, I present "Exhibit A".

 
At 2/20/2012 1:34 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Members of Aspen’s “taxi cartel” couldn’t be reached for comment, but have complained very vocally in the past about Sullivan’s low prices (voluntary contributions) and “unfair competition.” They are probably not happy that the renegade senior is back on the road. sell structured settlement

 

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