...two owners of cab companies have told the Observer they were offered a chance to buy their way back into the airport.
Like buying into "incentives" in Greensboro.
One cab company owner said he was approached in 2011 by a man who called himself an associate of Cannon with a proposition: Give me $10,000 in cash for Cannon’s campaign and reclaim your business at Charlotte Douglas. A second taxicab owner recounted a similar story about being approached by the man, who solicited $10,000 for City Council members, including Cannon, in exchange for airport business.
...it was a controversial issue before the City Council, and taxi owners claimed Cannon was not impartial. The decision meant that nine cab companies would lose access to the airport before the Democratic National Convention.
...“Zack,” came to Kashmary’s office on Gordon Street in 2011. Kashmary said Kacho locked the door and spoke quietly as he made the offer.
“He said, ‘I can get you back at the airport, if you donate $10,000 to his campaign,’ ” Kashmary said Kacho told him.
Kashmary said Kacho told him to get other taxi companies to also donate $10,000 for airport business. He said Kacho “made it clear” that he was speaking to him on behalf of Cannon, who was a City Council member at the time.
...Jeff Davis, an attorney representing Universal Cab, which wasn’t selected, said during a June 2011 City Council meeting that the HTA had turned the cab selection process into “a pay-to-play” scheme.
Cabbies also complained that Cannon shouldn’t be allowed to vote on the matter because of his membership with the HTA.
Hinson of Checker Cab, another company that wasn’t picked, said at the meeting that “if you have received benefits from the largess of (Jenatian), it is your duty to recuse yourself from this vote. If there is a perception of a conflict of interest, you should likewise remove yourself.”
Hinson said Friday he was referring to Cannon.
Cannon’s parking management company, E-Z Parking, is an HTA member. Cannon also sits on the HTA board and is a political ally of Jenatian. Jenatian attended Cannon’s speech to kick off his mayoral campaign in May 2013.
...Moustafa, the owner of Universal Cab, told the Observer on Monday that before the final airport taxi vote in June 2011, Jenatian told him in order to stay at the airport he would need to join the HTA for $5,000 – an offer Moustafa said he turned down. HTA membership levels start at $295 and reach $5,000 for corporate partnerships. [Like TREBIC]
...he said Kacho asked him for $10,000 as a “down payment” to get his company back to the airport. Moustafa said that Kacho told him he could get the money to City Council members, including Cannon.
...Moustafa said he turned down Kacho and took his concerns to the FBI.
...Mayur Khandelwal, an owner of Crown Cab, is one of three companies that has a contract to pick up passengers at the airport. Khandelwal supported Cannon politically – he gave him $250 during the 2013 mayor’s race – and said he believes the taxi selection process was fair.
...He added: “I think he once got an invitation to Patrick Cannon’s fundraiser. He said if you participate something can happen. He was saying, ‘I can make things happen.’ I think if he thought he was a bundler he could be someone of consequence.”
A “bundler” is someone who collects political donations from a number of people and then takes them to a candidate.
Like TREBIC
...During the 2013 mayoral campaign, 22 taxi drivers from City Cab each gave $225 to Cannon’s campaign for a total of $4,950.
At the time, Cannon was head of the City Council’s public safety committee, which handled issues and ordinances involving taxicabs. In the U.S. Attorney’s Office affidavit, Cannon allegedly boasted that his role leading the committee gave him a good relationship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.
A four-person selection committee recommended which three taxi companies should get contracts. One member of the committee ...had heard rumors that political figures were soliciting cab companies to influence the selection process.
Like I have heard about in Greensboro
from multiples of donors.
...Kashmary said he telephoned the owners of Diamond Cab, another company that had lost access to the airport.
Obaid Khan, who co-owns Diamond with his father, confirmed Friday that Kashmary called to discuss the alleged offer. “We didn’t want to go that route,” Khan said.
http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2014/03/31/2364725/charlotte-taxi-cab-owners-say.html?sp=/99/506/472/
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