Appeals court: Airline pilots can’t ride share like Uber
WASHINGTON — Private pilots can’t offer flight-sharing services to the public using an Internet model similar to those developed by Uber and Lyft, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The ruling upholds a decision earlier this year by the Federal Aviation Administration that said the service offered by Boston-based Flytenow violates flight regulations. The company’s […]
Bernie Sanders to blame for Baltimore PILOTs?
Payments in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOTs, are incentives given to some developers to encourage building that have become increasingly controversial in Baltimore. The incentives, which essentially allow a developer to pay a set amount of taxes for a certain period of time to alleviate steep increases in property taxes created by new building and […]
American Airlines plans to hire 1,500 pilots
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines says it will hire 1,500 new pilots over the next five years and offer jobs to the remaining pilots who are still furloughed. American said Monday that it would begin posting the new jobs this week and hire 45 to 50 pilots per month through next summer. It has […]
Airlines, pilots sue government over furloughs
WASHINGTON — Predicting a nightmarish air travel snarl that will stretch from coast to coast, the airline industry and the nation’s largest pilots union joined forces Friday to sue the Federal Aviation Administration over its decision to furlough air traffic controllers in order to achieve spending cuts required by Congress. Two airline trade associations and […]
FAA issue rules to prevent tired airline pilots
WASHINGTON — Rules aimed at preventing airline pilots from flying while dangerously fatigued were issued Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration, a move safety advocates have been urging for more than two decades. The rules update current pilot work schedule regulations, which largely date back to the 1960s, to reflect studies on how much time […]
American Airlines bankruptcy to have small impact
For most of the 240,000 passengers who fly American Airlines each day, the airline’s bankruptcy filing should have little noticeable impact. American continues to operate flights, honor tickets and take reservations. It says its frequent-flier program will be unaffected. Some travelers may eventually see fewer American flights at their airport. The incoming CEO said American […]
Editorial: City must act on TIFs, PILOTs
A task force studying the use of TIFs and PILOTs in Baltimore issued an insightful and informative report last week with 11 written recommendations that should be the starting point for reforming the city’s use of these increasingly popular but often misunderstood financing devices that have serious potential ramifications for Baltimore’s economic development and its […]
Task force: Clear policies required on incentives to developers
A city task force examining taxpayer incentives to developers is recommending new criteria for the awards, including profit sharing on all projects, independent monitors and possible use of such inducements to help rebuild Baltimore’s middle class. The task force’s report was to be released Thursday by City Councilman Carl Stokes, who formed the group in […]
Task force debates priorities for public financing
A task force studying public financing for large city developments on Tuesday debated how to prioritize such projects to share the wealth across Baltimore’s communities. The Task Force on Baltimore City Public-Private Development Financing Efforts is expected to release a report by mid-April. The group was formed in December 2010 by Baltimore City Council member […]
City Hall task force debates developers’ subsidies
A city task force examining the need for public subsidies to developers debated whether to hold businesses more accountable for those tax breaks through audits and increased transparency during a heated meeting Tuesday. The task force, formed by City Councilman Carl Stokes, is expected to issue a report with recommendations late next month, said co-chair […]
Daily Record investigation: TIFs increasingly fuel city projects
What is a TIF? The acronym stands for Tax Increment Financing, a little-understood form of public investment in urban redevelopment now favored by the city of Baltimore. When City Hall approves a TIF to help finance a new development, bonds are sold to investors. The bonds are to be repaid not with city general funds […]
Task force to study incentives to developers
How and why the city grants economic development incentives to private developers is the focus of a newly formed City Hall task force that will include developers, attorneys and business representatives. The Task Force on Baltimore City Public/Private Development Financing Efforts was detailed on Monday by Councilman Carl Stokes, whose district includes a portion of […]