Raul Rosano:
CLASS OF 1981
Lane Technical High SchoolClass of 1981
Chicago, IL
Loyola University - BusinessClass of 1987
Chicago, IL
Lane Technical High SchoolClass of 1981
Chicago, IL
Raul's Story
President of Airport Shuttle, Inc. Main Headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. Operates and owns a ground transportation company in Florida. Business commenced in February 2002. Airport Shuttle operates out of all major Airports throughout Florida including; Fort Lauderdale, Miami International, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa International Airports. Among the most popular destinations we go to are the Port of Miami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral for cruise ship passengers. We also go to Orlando Theme Parks and to Miami South Beach. Door to door service is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Hotels, private residences, and to businesses. Our company is closed on Christmas Day, New Years Day and Easter Sunday. We provide excellent on time service every time. Our new fleet consists of Airport Shuttle Vans, Corporate Black Executive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans, Corporate Black Executive Luxury SUV's, Black Executive Sedans, Stretch Limousines, Minibuses, Party Buses, and Deluxe Motor Coach Buses. To contact Airport Shuttle, Inc., please call 1-800-507-2702. You can also visit us at fortlauderdaleairportshuttle.com or airport-shuttle-transportation.com.
Stop Uber, Lyft at airport to avoid 'anarchy on the curbs,' aviation director says
Uber petitions. Aviation Director Kent George and Airport Shuttle, Inc. are working together to stop Uber and Lyft.
Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle President Raul Rosano hired legal council from Glantz Law to protect the Airport Shuttle and Taxi and Limousine business at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Raul Rosano obtained the legal services of Glantz law to advocate that Uber function under the same rules and regulations as do taxi and limo operators. So far, Uber has had drivers go undetected and who have passed their background checks who have been incarcerated in the past 7 years driving in South Florida. On September 15th, 2015, Uber officials demanded at the city council meeting that their drivers not be finger printed or have extensive background checks done by the federal goverment. Furthermore, the ride share company requested the city council implement a new rule just for them. Uber wants to be able to have independent contractors with a criminal past be able to become drivers for the company giving them a second chance to earn a steady income. The city council has denied Uber access to do business in Fort Lauderdale mainly because of their hiring practices and because their drivers do not carry commercial auto coverage to protect the passengers 24/7 in the event of an auto accident. Commercial auto insurance cost on average $6,000 dollars per year per vehicle. Other costs taxi and limo companies have to contend with is that each vehicle they operate costs them another $15,000 dollars per year to purchase all the required permits for each commercial vehicle on the road which also includes the fees to access the Airport and Sea Port for cruise ship customers with each pick up and drop off. When you compare the cost that Uber drivers pay they pay nothing they pay for no licensing stickers and no fees to access the Airports or Cruise Port and their regular auto insurance cost much less. The average Uber driver if they worked full time saves $21,000 dollars per year by going unmarked and undercover. However, passengers injured in a Uber car and other ride share programs are left in limbo status with unpaid medical bills once auto insurance claims investigators find out that a passenger was involved in a ride share program without commercial auto insurance that taxi cab and limo companies are required to have. Uber claims they will self-insure their driver's and passengers but that remains to be seen since drivers in the past have complained that Uber will not repair their cars involved in auto accidents while transporting Uber customers. Uber to this day is an app on a smart phone and they have no customer service phone number to file a complaint or medical claim. Uber makes it tough getting a hold of them if there is a problem for drivers as well as the customer.
In April 2015, Uber drivers and supporters rallied with petitions to present to the Broward County Commission to allow the car service to operate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was being swarmed by unlicensed, underground taxi drivers for the companies Uber and Lyft, Broward County's aviation director complained. He wants them stopped permanently.
They're taking up space in the public cell phone waiting lot, refusing to pay county fees and operating without the legally required licenses and permits, said Aviation Director Kent George, who warned that if the situation isn't rectified, "I will have anarchy on the curbs."
A Memorial Day weekend undercover operation at the airport netted dozens of violators; 102 citations were handed out to drivers.
Uber's here, but for how long?
George wants county commissioners this month, before their summer break, to "bring whatever action is necessary'' against Uber and Lyft, "to stop their operations at FLL,'' he wrote to County Administrator Bertha Henry in an internal memo.
George said Monday he'd like to see the county get a court injunction barring the companies from operating in Broward, so that offending drivers could be stopped â maybe even arrested.
"We've attempted in every way, shape or form to come to a resolution,'' George said. "It's not a good situation at all.''
He said he fears if the new-on-the-scene Uber and Lyft drivers are allowed to continue operating outside county laws, taxi drivers will revolt and stop following them, as well.
Uber drivers want to remain in Broward County
"Then I will have a safety and security p...Expand for more
roblem on the curbs of the airport,'' he said. "I'll have no control and the customer is going to suffer.''
The smartphone-based ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft entered the South Florida market last fall, spinning the traditional cab industry into turmoil.
While fares for cabs in Broward are set by the county, services like Uber and Lyft, whose drivers use their personal vehicles, charge less.
Traditional cabs pay $3 per fare to operate at the airport, and must wait in line to be dispatched. Uber and Lyft, meanwhile, swoop into the curb, avoiding the system.
Traditional cab drivers have county chauffeur registrations, and their cars have county permits. Uber and Lyft drivers often lack one or both.
Uber: 'We cannot operate'' under new Broward law
George said his analysis showed the cabs are losing 180 fares a day at the airport to Uber and Lyft. That's out of approximately 2,275 fares there a day, based on figures supplied by Yellow Cab President John Camillo.
County commissioners have talked before of seeking a court injunction against Uber.
The county has issued more than 500 citations to "transportation network company'' drivers since last fall for failing to have the proper permits for driver and vehicle, said Leonard Vialpando, director of the Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department.
In April, the County Commission modernized its taxi laws, recognizing that companies like Uber and Lyft are "transportation network companies,'' or "TNCs,'' and will be treated differently than traditional taxis. Unlike with taxis, TNCs can have unlimited numbers of vehicles, and unregulated fares.
But the law also requires drivers to submit to fingerprint-based FBI criminal background checks, carry insurance consistent with Florida law, which County Attorney Joni Armstrong Coffey said requires around-the-clock commercial coverage, and have their vehicles inspected by a mechanic.
Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons said at the time that its drivers would pull out of Broward.
"We cannot operate in Broward County if such onerous regulations are enforced, and stand ready to re-engage with the Commission to bring more choice and opportunity back to Broward County."
Gibbons said Monday the company stands by that statement.
Lyft spokeswoman Paige Thelen said Monday that the company "welcomes common-sense regulation, but a one-size-fits-all approach does not support new, innovative transportation choices like Lyft. Cities and states across the nation have created new rules for ridesharing that promote safety while allowing this new form of community-powered transportation to thrive. Broward County can do the same. We will continue to work with local officials to explore positive paths forward for Lyft in Broward County.''
A simple tap on the smartphone-based apps for both companies shows drivers surrounding the airport waiting for fares.
Vialpando said some drivers have attempted to follow the law.
But the companies must obtain a license in order for their drivers' vehicles to be permitted. Neither Uber nor Lyft has attempted to obtain a license, he said.
The county has a website with information for TNC drivers, (click here to access it) and expects them to be able to apply online for chauffeur registrations starting June 19. Fingerprinting is still pending approval from the FBI, he said, but also is expected to start later this month.
The fee for a driver to obtain a chauffeur registration will range from about $90 to more than $100, he said.
"We're going to try to make it as easy as possible,'' he said.
2nd Article written below
Uber, Lyft gone wild at local airport, call in the clowns
Uber is the ISIS of the ride-for-fees world, except nicer
South Florida has had it up to HERE with Uber - and Lyft for that matter.
Drivers for these companies don't listen to our rules. They drive and park where they want. And now they have invaded our airports, taking up valuable and protected curb space. There is no end in sight.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has been invaded by legions of unlicensed and underground Uber and Lyft drivers. Broward County's aviation director, the guy who is supposed to make our visits to the airport as safe and smooth as silk, is mad as hell is isn't going to take it anymore.
Kent George and Fort Lauderdale Airport Shuttle President Raul Rosano is asking, nay, demanding, that Broward Commissioners get on the ball and take this Uber invasion of the local airport seriously. Code Red type action.
Kent complains the so-called Transportation Network Companies -- heaven forbid, don't call them taxis -- are taking up space at the airport in the public cell phone waiting lot, refusing to pay county fees and operating without the legally required licenses and permits.
The only thing Uber drivers are not doing illegally is carrying anti-aircraft weapons. Yet.
If Broward doesn't act soon, warns Kent, "I will have anarchy on the curbs."
What does that mean for the rest of us? Anyone who is driving to the airport to park or pick up a passenger will have to battle Uber and Lyft drivers for every inch, every moment of the day, relentlessly, without mercy.
It doesn't have to be this way. Uber can play nice. Uber had a chance to negotiate new regulations with Broward commissioners back when they first considered entering the market about a year ago. Instead, they invaded and asked questions later. Then when rules were made, Uber ignored them. They still are.
South Floridians love Uber. Love it. They would marry it if a person could marry an app.
Uber beats taxis. Cold. No comparison.
But is that enough reason for us let our guard down, give up our rules? Can we be bought off that easily?
Daniel Vasquez may be reached at Sunsentinel
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