Morning Fizz
Until the Legal Mess is Sorted Out
1. State Sen. Margarita Prentice's bill
to suspend I-960—the voter-approved measured that requires a two-thirds vote for tax increases—advanced to the senate floor yesterday. (Our previous coverage of the bill is here.)
Another bill we've been following—the environmental community's push to triple the tax on hazardous substances to pay for storm water clean up—was formally introduced in the legislature yesterday. The bill initially earmarks the majority of the money for the general fund rather than for environmental clean up.
A lower profile bill—South Seattle Sen. Adam Kline's (D-37) bill that would put the brakes on the foreclosure process by giving homeowners more options for loans and mediation—moved out of committee yesterday.
2. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxis Association (STITA) has sued the Port of Seattle. The nonprofit cab—which has had an exclusive right to serve Sea-Tac ariport—recently lost a bidding war to competitor Yellow Taxi and with it, their two-decade long agreement with the Port of Seattle to provide the cabs leaving the airport. STITA sued the Port—they requested a restraining order to prevent the Port from signing the new contract—over the lost contract saying the bidding process was illegal.
According to the lawsuit, the Port used a "profit-driven model" with a "concession fee" instead of the previous model that based the contract on the Port's estimated costs. STITA also says in the lawsuit that they rely on the Port contract for the bulk of their business and will go under (and put 450 employees out of a job) without it.
King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez quashed the lawsuit yesterday when he denied the requested restraining order yesterday, but the State Court of Appeals quickly issued a stay. The Port can't sign with Yellow Cab until the legal mess is sorted out.
3. Our favorite local band, THEESatisfaction, is playing at Neumos tonight.
Another bill we've been following—the environmental community's push to triple the tax on hazardous substances to pay for storm water clean up—was formally introduced in the legislature yesterday. The bill initially earmarks the majority of the money for the general fund rather than for environmental clean up.
A lower profile bill—South Seattle Sen. Adam Kline's (D-37) bill that would put the brakes on the foreclosure process by giving homeowners more options for loans and mediation—moved out of committee yesterday.
2. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxis Association (STITA) has sued the Port of Seattle. The nonprofit cab—which has had an exclusive right to serve Sea-Tac ariport—recently lost a bidding war to competitor Yellow Taxi and with it, their two-decade long agreement with the Port of Seattle to provide the cabs leaving the airport. STITA sued the Port—they requested a restraining order to prevent the Port from signing the new contract—over the lost contract saying the bidding process was illegal.
According to the lawsuit, the Port used a "profit-driven model" with a "concession fee" instead of the previous model that based the contract on the Port's estimated costs. STITA also says in the lawsuit that they rely on the Port contract for the bulk of their business and will go under (and put 450 employees out of a job) without it.
King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez quashed the lawsuit yesterday when he denied the requested restraining order yesterday, but the State Court of Appeals quickly issued a stay. The Port can't sign with Yellow Cab until the legal mess is sorted out.
3. Our favorite local band, THEESatisfaction, is playing at Neumos tonight.
Today's Morning Fizz brought to you by Vote Yes! on Seattle School Levies
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