An exclusive cab stand outside the Hilton Hotel on Paca Street was removed last week after competing drivers staged a protest questioning the legality of the deal that only allows Yellow Cabs to pick up passengers at the hotel that Baltimore City helped finance.
“The signs and stand have been removed, that’s all we know at this point,” said Alvin Turner, spokesman for Baltimore City Parking Authority. Turner declined to divulge details as to what prompted the move.
Under city law exclusive cab stands cannot be on public property.
Removing the sign has not helped business for competing taxi drivers who remain upset about the exclusive deal with the 747-room hotel that connects to the Baltimore Convention Center. The city-financed hotel required nine ordinances to authorize the development and $301 million in bonds.
“It doesn’t matter if they removed the stand, it doesn’t do us any good because if we park our cabs there to pick up passengers the police said they will ticket and tow us,” said Sheila Adekoya, a driver for Diamond Cab. “With all the exclusive deals I’m making much less money now. It’s just getting harder and harder for drivers.”
A city council member also questioned if the exclusive deal had been properly vetted.
“I’ve discussed this with mayor and I will continue to look at this,” said City Councilman Bernard “Jack” Young. “I think the contract should be put out for competitive bid if it involves city money.”
But officials for Yellow Cab Company, which controls 600 of the city’s 1152 licensed cabs said the Hilton Hotel asked the company to provide exclusive services.
“They asked us if we could give them reliable and consistent service, and guarantee that our cabs are clean,” said Yellow Cab regional manager Dwight Kines. “They approached us, we did not approach them.”
Yellow has inked a series of exclusive but controversial deals with major downtown hotels, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Penn Station. Kines said the company has won over many clients by providing the best service.
“We keep our standards high. People complain we have too many rules for drivers,” he said. “It’s not easy, but our customers stick with us because they’re happy.”
Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon said Hilton Hotel management was free to manage the property as it sees fit.
“Hilton manages the hotel and they make the decision on how to make the hotel as profitable as it can be,” he said. “Bear in mind the nearly 80 percent of the hotel’s employees are city residents.”
Hilton Hotel management did not return calls for comment.
But Baltimore Cab Association driver Dawit Yanas said the exclusive deals unfairly discriminate against him, making it difficult for drivers not associated with Yellow Cab to make a living.
“I have the same license and should be allowed to pick up passengers anywhere,” he said as he waited at a cab stand on Pratt Street.
“Right now I can only pick-up people who walk out of the hotel and find me,” he said. “It’s not fair.”
