There was a small victory for free enterprise and the marketplace at City Council yesterday. Councilwoman Liz Brown introduced an ordinance to loosen taxi cab restrictions that included a provision to reduce from three to two the number of cabs a compay must have to operate in Fort Wayne. Other council members took Brown up on her idea and went even further. Now, a person can go into business here with a single cab:
“This is a classic regulatory argument we're having here,” said Councilman Mitch Harper, R-4th. Harper said regulations such as a requirement that a taxi company needs two (or three) vehicles pose “barriers to entry” for immigrants or anyone of meager economic means.
And there wasn't the usual Republican-Democratic clash or liberal-conservative debate. The one-cab measure passed unanimously. Common sense -- it's a beautiful thing.
