Stand With Cabbies

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Unfortunately, the U.S. Shuttle has not.

The shuttle came to Cambridge promising a cheap alternative ride to Logan Airport, and it has not disappointed--the rich students that make their home here 9 months out of the year. But for hard-working Cambridge cabbies, the shuttle service has been no less than a disaster, sucking away thousands of dollars from their annual business.

Now, we believe in the principles of free and fair competition espoused in Ec 10. But U.S. Shuttle offers cheap fares only because it is getting a free ride. As a Boston-based company, it is exempt from all medallion fees charged to other Cambridge taxis with whom they compete directly for business. If this is fair, then we've got some land to sell you in Arkansas.

We applaud the City Council's efforts to oppose the shuttle. The grinch has stolen Christmas once; the City Council should not allow U.S. Shuttle to do the same.