On June 6, an All Island Taxi employee walked certain areas of our village knocking on doors to get residents to sign a petition, which would have All Island Taxi as the exclusive taxi company serving our village. We refused. In fact I contacted the new owner Maryann Blessinger to express my displeasure in this political campaign for simply hailing a cab. I informed the owner that there are many more important issues facing the community that need immediate attention and an exclusive taxi company was not one of them. Furthermore, I stated that "I did not agree with this door to door campaign method." As most residents know L.I. Checker and Young's taxi each have one license to operate in our village. I stated All Island Taxi should try providing better service and advertising to improve business. Blessinger said "They will try that too."

Well, the last time I checked, Mineola was not in Stalin's Russia, we have choices and competition is very healthy. It appears that new All Island Taxi is very similar to the old All Island Taxi. I strongly suggest that the elected village officials find a reasonable and equitable distribution of the taxi licenses to operate in Mineola to those who can best serve the residents.

Richard Maher