Five state workers face criminal charges that they allegedly took bribes from cab drivers at Logan International Airport so the drivers could bypass the waiting pool to pick up fares, officials said Tuesday.
The accused are employed by the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan, and are charged in Suffolk County with accepting a corrupt gift, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office said in a statement with Massport and State Police officials.
Comments
These guys control the taxi line and make $63,000??? Prosecutors in this state start at $37,500, after college and law school. Is this why Massport charges such high fees to travelers, to those renting cars at the airport, and to anyone who parks a car?
Yes.
Some drivers told State Police they made about $350 per day if they did not pay bribes to get to the head of the line. If they work 6 days a week that's $109.200. That's pretty good I would say.
Say it ain't so... a government hack on the take...
As Devalue would say: Just an anecdote...
$63,000 a year ....wow. Do you have to know how to read to get the job?
You will probably find that these people had connections to Mass politicians or Port Authority management.
I agree with Fairpl4y. These guys have been stealing from the public long before they took bribes. $63,000 is an unconscionable salary for the state or it's port authority to pay a "cab starter" when public prosecutors are paid so little, not to mention public school teachers. This is one reason why I can't support Patrick's proposal to increase taxes.
Only in Massachusetts! Can't wait to hear what our "esteemed" governor will have to say about this....and I betcha they will all be able to "retire" and collect a pension; which of course hurts those employees who really do their job. Where can we get a job like that? They make more money that a college educated person..what a state we live in...
This is another example that counters the argument that good salaries are needed to attract quality workers. This has never been a good premise. So let's cut salaries at Massport to reduce its high operating costs especially since it hasn't attracted quality workers. This is not an isolated incidence - there were 5 of them. This is evidence of a climate of corruption at Massport. Meningitis deaths, crime lab testing corruption, inelgible welfare payments - who's in charge?
This is a perfect example of what's wrong with state government in Massachusetts. If these "cab starters," who must be pretty low on the salary totempole at Massport, are making $63,000 a year, how much is everybody else making? A great deal more, no doubt, than they would be paid for comparable jobs in the private sector.
To add to it, most cab starters do a HORRIBLE job. Considering they barely have a job to do, this is rediculous. Most of the time I have to ask them to stop chatting and call the cabs. Often I wish they weren't there and it were just a regular cab stand. If you account for effort, skills, and ability these are probably among the most grossly overpaid people in the country. Fire them all.
OMG_and the Channel 4, 11:pm News (2/12/13) showed the I-Team video of Massport Airport workers taking an illegal short-cut to avoid the tolls . . . but Deval Patrick will smirk while avoiding to address the issue. Corrupt and incompetent Democrat politicians.
Paste experience at taxi line for terminal C was slow and frustrating because starters did not seem to care about moving people through and anticipating need for more taxis as lines lengthened. Last night the service was great and the line moved well. Younger people were in charge. A noticeable improvement.
5 future candidates for higher office? They did it right - found a niche that no one pays attention to and made the most of it. Economy jumpstarters!! Do any of you posters who are blaming this on Patrick and the 'Democrat party' have the courage to admit that the 'liberal, America hating lamestream media Globe uncovered this and printed it? BTW - I agree 100% that Patrick owns this - it's happening under his watch.