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Taxi board to invite Mercury Transportation representatives to June hearing over permit, insignia and assault-related concerns
Summary
The board voted to invite Mr. Boston and Mercury Transportationattorney to the June meeting to respond to questions about an expired permit, alleged flat-rate practices, an assault report and whether the companyname or colors conflict with city ordinance.
The taxi regulatory board voted May 7 to invite Mr. Boston and Mercury Transportationrepresentatives to its June meeting to "show cause" why the company should not face citation for operating without a valid license.
The boardChair said the July agenda will include follow-up from the inspector and noted that investigators had paused some actions while a lawsuit progressed. "Mercury Transportation has filed a lawsuit against the city, and that is still pending," Attorney Turner told the board.
Public commenter Jonathan Easter, who identified himself with Nougataxi, told the board he believes the lawsuit concerns money owed, not ownership. "The lawsuit is based on money owed, not ownership of company," Easter said, urging the board to clarify whether the litigation has held alleged violations in abeyance.
Board members said outstanding issues include an expired permit that, according to staff, had no renewal paperwork on file; allegations that a flat-rate payment structure had been promoted; questions about whether a new companycould be operating under colors, names or insignia similar to an existing taxi under city ordinance; and a previously reported lobby assault for which the board's inspector had sought a police report.
The sergeant standing in for Inspector Mosier told members he had found no record of a pending renewal and that the inspector who reviewed social-media materials earlier concluded the screenshots and video were not artificially generated. A board member said any citation would normally follow a show-cause notice that gives an owner a chance to respond.
The board approved a motion to invite Mr. Boston and Mercury Transportation's attorney to appear at the June meeting and asked the inspector to provide updates on the flat-rate allegation, the assault investigation and any insignia/colors concerns. The clerk said the board would publish a public-hearing notice in the newspaper if the inspector forwarded a complete application.
Next steps: the board will ask the inspector to verify records and prepare any show-cause documentation; the June meeting will include the invited parties' opportunity to respond.
