PPA

La Alianza de Taxistas Unidas se organizó una vigilia en el Miercoles, 7 de Julio para apoyar las trabajadores y sus familias quienes eran vicimizados por una redada reciente de parte de la Autoridad de Estacionamiento de Philadlephia y ICE. Estudiantes, trabajdores y la comunidad religiosa llogo para apoyar las taxitas y sus familias y denunciar este injusticia.
 
Este reportaje fue producido por La Television del Proyecto de Medios en Movimiento con traduccion y doblaje por Radio Tlacuache
 
 

The Unifed Taxi Workers Alliance invites you to stand with drivers to demand that the PPA stop criminalizing workers. Stand up for work with dignity. Come to a prayer vigil for the families who have been targeted and whose rights have been violated in the recent raids on Philadelphia Taxi Drivers. An attack against one of us is an attack against all people struggling to survive in this city.
Prayer Vigil
For Our Brothers & Sisters Victimized in PPA Immigration Raids
Wednesday, July 7th
12-2pm
PPA Headquarters, 3101 Market St.

Two weeks ago Philadelphia Parking Authority sent notices to approximately 100 taxi drivers, claiming that the drivers were owed money from past credit card transactions and should report to the PPA office on Wednesday, June 30th to receive their unclaimed check. As the drivers arrived at the Parking Authority, they were hand cuffed and arrested. In total, 27 drivers were arrested, 22 drivers were ultimately released and the whereabouts and identities of the other drivers is not known.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has passed a decision clearly stating the PPA has acted outside of it's regulatory authority. The ruling found that the PPA has been operating for years without following proper procedure in regards to setting rules for the taxi cab industry. The decision effectively voids regulation created by the PPA since it's establishment in 2004, calling the PPA's rules "void and unenforceable."

 
by Milena Velis and Todd Wolfson
 
Update: Ron Blunt was found not guilty


Despite having already been exonerated on assault charges, Ronald Blount, President of the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) will stand trial for a second time this week on the same allegations. Back in October of 2009, in municipal court, a jury exonerated him in less than one hour. But that resounding decision has not deterred the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) from retrying Mr Blount for the same crime in their administrative court, Thursday April 22nd. 

Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) went into action. We met with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)’s Taxicab and Limousine Division (TLD) first, then with some of PPA’s Board. Stu Bykofsky wrote an article in the Daily News. We collected evidence from drivers experiences and GPS records.

The PPA’s response was: It doesn’t exist; Drivers are driving away when being ticketed; You are accusing us of being criminals; and your evidence is insignificant compared to the amount of drivers there are.

 
Photos by Kathleen Foley. Video by Tim Moyer.
On Wednesday July 22, over 300 taxi drivers, along with allies from Media Mobilizing Project, Workers United, Philadelphia Student Union, Casino Free Philadelphia, Jobs with Justice and IWW rallied at 3101 Market Street outside the headquarters of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA).  The rally was focused on a list of demands taxi drivers have for the PPA:

• Fair parking ticket practices and an end to drive-by ticketing practices,
• A lowering of new PPA fees where, for instance, it now costs drivers $200 to put a new taxi on the road, and
• A return of all credit card money that has been misplaced from drivers' accounts through the PPA run credit card system.

 
The Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) will stage a rally this Wednesday, July 22nd, from 11 am to 1pm at 3101 Market Street, in front of the Philadelphia Parking Authority' headquarters. The demonstration will be to demand fair parking ticket practices, a reduction in the outrageous new fees imposed on the taxi industry, and the return of funds that were wrongly withheld from drivers when doing credit card transactions.

On Friday February 20th, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in the case of the Taxi Workers Alliance et al vs. The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled in favor of the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance (UTWA) giving the Commonwealth Court jurisdiction over PPA and offering taxi drivers, as well as cab and dispatch companies, a place to seek redress in regards to PPA regulations.