Supervisor Weishan Says Lifting Taxicab Cap is Good For Free Market

Milwaukee County Supervisor John F. Weishan, Jr., today called on the Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee to pass his resolution calling for lifting the cap on taxicab licenses at General Mitchell International Airport, saying the measure is “good for the free market.”

The Committee will consider the resolution at its meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

“It is ridiculous that we are stifling the free market by limiting the number of taxicab licenses to the airport,” said Weishan, vice-chair of the Committee. “This measure will not only encourage free enterprise, it will give travelers a better chance to catch a cab from the airport in a timely fashion.”

Weishan’s resolution says that the City of Milwaukee revised its taxicab licensing and permit regulations in response to a lawsuit filed by several taxicab operators and by the activities of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft – otherwise known as ridesharing services. It adds that in the summer of 2014 the City of Milwaukee revised its ordinances to allow for the operation of additional taxicabs and TNCs within the City by lifting the cap on the number of permits awarded by the city.

In addition, the resolution says the City of Milwaukee’s revised taxicab permitting ordinance provides for increased competition and access of new entrants into the City’s for-hire automobile transport.

“The City of Milwaukee has called for increased competition, why doesn’t the County do the same?” Weishan said. “There is a demand for more licenses. This is good public and economic policy, and I hope my colleagues will agree that passing the resolution is the best thing for the free market, travelers and the airport.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.