Like we’ve said before, it’s good to be a King in Cape Brunswick

           

And elsewhere, we should add:

By now, you should remember without prodding that Brunswick Taxi (BT), owned by Dale King, husband of long time former town councilor and council chair Joanne King, who was also a BDC board member, received a quarter million dollar grant from the Brunswick Development Corporation in July of last year.  Or as they defined it, a totally forgivable loan.  With not a single payment due before the date on which forgiveness is effective (“on or before” Aug 1, 2016.)

No pain, no strain, as we used to say.

                 

We’ve also reported more than once that we can’t fathom the local governing elite stubbornness about locating the Amtrak MLF at the Brunswick West location, adjacent to the Bouchard Drive neighborhood.   We’re convinced though, that at least in part it relates to swallowing whole the conceit promulgated by NNEPRA that unless the MLF is built there, Amtrak/Downeaster service to Brunswick will disappear.  We’ll be expanding on that notion in the future.

                

We’ve also told you that the self-same Brunswick Taxi firm is providing transportation for Amtrak crews between Portland and Brunswick twice a day, seven days a week.  Which raises the obvious question of how much Amtrak is paying them to provide this service, and how much that has influenced the resolve of local influential parties to keep Amtrak coming to town, and therefore, ensure the MLF is built at Brunswick West. 

The cost for this service is just one more of numerous burdens of Amtrak operation  hidden from the public, and therefore masking the financial realties of passenger train service.

Attempts have been made for some time by interested local parties to find out how much Brunswick Taxi is being paid.  Official channels, FOIA procedures, and our state delegation have all been avenues of inquiry.  

After a good deal of bureaucratic shuffling, delays, obfuscation and other machinations, the result to date is that Amtrak will not disclose what they’re paying for the service. Like good bureaucrats, they use multiple layers of ‘private parties’ to place the contract, as we told you before,  like Wichita, KS based Crew Transportation Services, etc.

Lacking hard data, we’ve decided to make our own estimate of how much Brunswick Taxi is probably receiving, based on two factors: this is the government; and how much limo service between Portland and Brunswick goes for.

Our estimate at this point is that BT is probably getting in the neighborhood of $300 for each round trip, since as many as 4 or more crew members are being transported.  Twice a day, seven days a week, and you’re looking at $4,000 a week, or about $200,000 a year.  Compare that to the cost of leasing a vehicle for the same purpose, at say, $1,000 a month tops!

Quite a deal for BT, especially when they’ve been handed $247,000 gratis for buying new vehicles.  In a prior post, we asked if any reader believes that the idea of such a grant just popped up out of nowhere after Joanne left office and her post on the BDC board.

In the same vein, we ask whether the contract for crew transport came out of nowhere after the same transition, keeping in mind that train service began in November of 2012.

Any way you look at it, it’s pretty clear that the prosperity of at least one local business interest is coupled very tightly to Amtrak continuing to come to Brunswick.  Not that this would effect anyone’s lobbying with the right authorities to see that it does.

We suppose our estimate could be off, but since the FOIA process yields no results, our guestimate will have to be good enough, at least until such time as Dale King chooses to release documents showing how much the government pays to further subsidize Amtrak service to our little outpost.  Keeping secrets is all the rage, you know, especially among the ladies, who often learn the lesson at a very early age.

One more thing; we have to wonder whether this lucrative contract was factored in to BDC deliberations before deciding that a quarter million in free money was necessary to keep BT alive, ‘for the good of the community.’

Technorati Tags: Brunswick Taxi,BDC,Amtrak

How Amtrak can save at least $150,000 per year on Brunswick operating costs alone.

                

As we’ve told you many times, Brunswick Taxi, owned by the King family of Brunswick, has a contract for ferrying Amtrak Downeaster crews between Brunswick and Portland twice a day, 365 days a year.

                  

They also have an ad hoc security role for said passenger rail service, evidenced by how they took us hostage a few weeks ago.  Such is the privilege accorded those who are more equal than the rest of us in egalitarian Brunswick.

We have it on good authority that the arrangement Brunswick Taxi has to provide these services is laundered via multiple layers of subcontractors to the Federal Amtrak bureaucracy.  We and others have been unable to obtain the specifics via normal Freedom of Information/Freedom of Access provisions in federal and state law.  There are simply too many layers of administrative isolation between NNEPRA, the operator of the Downeaster, and Brunswick Taxi, your home-town small business operator.  The same operator that a few years back received a $247,000 grant from Brunswick taxpayers via the Brunswick Development Corporation.

Unable to get actual contract details from official sources, we’ve estimated the Brunswick Taxi contract to be in the range of $200,000 per year for providing those two round trips per day between Church Road and Portland.  That’s a very nice revenue base for their operation thank you,  and not once has anyone challenged our estimate.

The Downeaster is currently running an annual operating deficit of about $12 million a year, or $1 million a month.  In round numbers, Brunswick ridership accounts for about 5% of the total, so on a pro-rata basis, Brunswick operations contribute about $50,000 per month to that NNEPRA deficit.  Not including other costs like subsidies for the Departure Center in Brunswick Station, and who knows what else.

 

Now here’s an idea.  Maybe 100 paces or so from where Brunswick Taxi picks up and drops off Amtrak crews twice a day, 365 days a year, is an auto dealer, Bodwell Motors by name.  Turns out they’ve sold a boat load of vans over the years just like the one the King’s use on their contracted runs.  And we suspect these vans are still one of their top sellers, even in this age of SUV’s, Crossovers, and other trendy choices.

We’re going to go out on a limb and suggest that NNEPRA, or their Amtrak friends in Washington, through their inscrutable subcontracting labyrinth, could lease a van from Bodwell for a few thousand cash up front, and a monthly lease fee of something like $400.  Amtrak could do so, and provide the vehicle for their crews.  The crew coming into town on the 12:30 PM arrival could get in the van and drive down to Portland, where they would leave the van for use by the later crew that needs to come to Brunswick to operate the 5:30 pm departure from Brunswick to points south.

We’re pretty sure that Bodwell would consider allowing the vehicle to be parked overnight on their property for safekeeping, right across the street from the drop off/pick up point.  Looks like they’d  put about 2,000 miles a month on the van, incurring some excess mileage charges.  Then there’s gas and insurance.

All told, we figure Amtrak might have to spend $2,000 a month for this crew vehicle.

Let’s call it $25,000 a year in round numbers.  Which is $175,000 less than we figure they’re paying Brunswick Taxi for the same transportation service.

That’s a pretty sizable saving, we should think.  And it would include a modest business transaction for a local dealership as part of the bargain.

We understand that NNEPRA, Amtrak, and the rest of the business entities they deal with are not expected to be efficient or break even, or even close.  Still, we think saving more than $150,000 a year for Brunswick operations alone is worth a second look.

Don’t you?

                  

Then again, we’re not like all the rest, are we?  We don’t run on other people’s money.

Technorati Tags: Amtrak,Brunswick Taxi,Downeaster,NNEPRA

You gotta be kidding…..

                     

Hopefully you remember this recent post: http://othersideofbrunswick.blogspot.com/2014/05/mainebiz-earns-five-backsides-award.html, in which we announced that MaineBiz had won our coveted five-backside award.  We had further thoughts on the subject here: http://othersideofbrunswick.blogspot.com/2014/05/mainebiz-award-further-thoughts.html

Now it turns out that we need to dish out another five backside award, this time to “Freeport USA,” which we assume to be a Chamber of Commerce style group that promotes Freeport’s ‘business’ community.  As you will see, the term ‘business’ is a real stretch.

                           

Why?  Because we just came across this news item on the NNEPRA web site, in which that Buddy Holly girl, Patsy Quinn gets to take another bow.

Amtrak Downeaster named 2013 Business of the Year by FreeportUSA

03/27/2014

Freeport, Maine – FreeportUSA has named the Amtrak Downeaster as the 2013 Business of the Year which recognizes a Freeport business that implements outstanding business practices and is remarkable for its longevity, growth, innovation, and contributions to community-oriented projects. The announcement was made at their Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration.

“We’re delighted to recognize the outstanding successes of the Amtrak Downeaster. It’s through their efforts that Freeport continues to grow and evolve as a premiere destination to shop and play.” Says Kelly Edwards, Executive Director of FreeportUSA.

"We are pleased to be recognized for the impact that the Amtrak Downeaster train service has had on Freeport and we continue to focus on growing ridership and increasing service north of Portland to Freeport and Brunswick”, Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of NNEPRA.

Is it any wonder that the general public is fed up with the self-serving, self-aggrandizing behavior of those who live off taxpayer funds, and who largely behave as if they have no-one to answer to?  More and more, instead of ‘public servants,’ they act like ‘public royalty,’ and our People Magazine & Social Media obsessed culture laps it up like so much ambrosia from our benefactors.

                                

Frankly, Side is mad as hell over this, and we could say ‘we’re not going to take it anymore,’ but there’s nothing we can do to fulfill that threat.  All we can do is try our best to inform you of the bizarre behavior that passes for normal in our day and age, and, we are convinced, will sooner rather than later bring an end to a formerly rational (at least somewhat) societal framework.  And all semblance and expectations of sanity that go with it.

To begin with, Amtrak, the Downeaster, and NNEPRA and Patsy Quinn have nothing to do with ‘business,’ at least as that term is commonly understood.  But perhaps like so much other plain English of our earlier years, it’s being redefined to match cultural ‘narratives.’

Amtrak is clearly a government entity, and a massively subsidized one, and the Downeaster fits within that box.  NNEPRA is created by Maine Statute - http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/23/title23sec8111.html.

Here is the opening passage of that section:

§8111. Purpose

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, as established by Title 5, section 12004-F, subsection 16, is a body both corporate and politic in the State established for the general purpose of promoting passenger rail service as set forth in subchapter 1. It is declared that the purposes of this chapter are public and that the authority must be regarded as performing a governmental function in carrying out this chapter.

Do you see clearly what it says?  Or do we have to spell it out for MaineBiz and Freeport USA?

NNEPRA, it says, is a ‘body politic,’ that it’s ‘purposes are public,’ and that it is ‘performing a governmental function.’

Coupled with the obvious nature of Amtrak, we simply cannot believe that any rational adult could deem that the Downeaster, NNEPRA, or Patsy Quinn could qualify for any award related to ‘business.’

The flaw is that we said, as you might notice, any RATIONAL adult.  We conclude that no such individuals are involved in this process.  Ain’t that great?

Before we dissect the words used in the award, we want to remind you that the owner of Petrillo’s Restaurant, adjacent to the Freeport Amtrak station, when pressed by a TV reporter, stated that he had noticed ‘a slight uptick’ in business since the train began coming to town.  Which we took to be a euphemism for ‘not a damn extra nickel,’ to make the local authorities happy.

We also wonder how much the Town of Freeport is kicking in to operate the train station, the related parking lot, and the visitor’s center.  In Brunswick, that’s about $100,000 per year.

Now let’s look at the language in the award citation:  “which recognizes a Freeport business that implements outstanding business practices and is remarkable for its longevity, growth, innovation, and contributions to community-oriented projects.”  Phrase by phrase.

• “Freeport Business:”  As we’ve already asserted, the Amtrak Downeaster is not a business, but even if it was, the fact that it stops in Freeport hardly makes it a Freeport business.
• “Outstanding business practices:”  Again, not a business,  but even if it was, a 45% operating loss qualifies it for a label of disastrous, not ‘outstanding.’  Or for the more sensitive, ‘unsustainable.’
• “Remarkable longevity:”  Yup…it’s been running for a year and a half now, still in it’s honeymoon phase.  We’ll see if the inevitable growth in costs makes it even a bigger loser.
• “Remarkable growth:”  If you believe the hype.  Starting at zero, of course, provides a meaningless baseline.  We ask for proof.  Not blather; proof.
• “Remarkable innovation:”  Are you freakin’ kidding us?  What’s innovative about running at a 45% loss, and surviving only because of coercive taxpayer subsidy?  Forgive us; that’s a stupid question in this day and age.
• “Contributions to community-oriented projects:”  Surely they jest.  The only thing we can think of here is that the requirement for a community funded visitor’s center must be what they’re referring to, and that would be a ‘contribution’ by Freeport, not the Downeaster.

                                    

In other words, they can stop playing “Always look at the bright side of your life” on the Freeport USA piano.  We’d prefer a little sanity from our local elites and community leaders.  For a change.

                            

Who knew you could get Brunswick Sausage in Freeport, too?  Must be the sausage maker is taking his cue from our good friends at Frosty’s, and expanding to meet the seemingly unlimited demand for the BS product.

Next thing you know, BS Inc. will be looking for a grant from the BDC.

Technorati Tags: Amtrak,NNEPRA,Downeaster,Freeport

Spotlighting Accountability: Who let the dogs out?

                                                    

It’s spring, and besides the napalm like bouquet of Amtrak diesel fumes, the aroma of Brunswick Sausage is in the air. 

                             

Perhaps that’s why we notice more members of the animal world showing up in public. 

                          

At the rate we’re going, the Concerned Ladies of Upper Brunswick (CLUB) may have to set up  special housing just to hold them all, with separation of the various breeds to help maintain civic tranquility, and provide for the special needs of each and every one.

       

    

                 

They better make accommodations for reptiles as well; they’ve been spotted around town lately.

   

On the other hand, a well known big dog will continue to run free in town, we expect.  Shown here anticipating his next pastrami sandwich, this pooch, ironically enough, holds ‘office hours’ at..

                       

Today’s news is that this “big dog” has caused other poochies to become, well, disturbed.

       

Once regular fixtures on our streets, these dogs haven’t been seen much in the last few years.  But they’re apparently working to get back in the fray.  Witness the following news.

We have a report “on background” that Brunswick Taxi recently had their corporate counsel, Shawn Bell, Esquire of Lewiston file a letter with Maine’s Government Oversight Committee objecting to certain specifics of the OPEGA investigation of NNEPRA.  The specifics relate to their arrangements for providing daily double round trip transportation to Amtrak crews between Brunswick and Portland.

The letter is dated April 23rd of this year.  We had a chance to peak at the contents, and hope  very soon we’ll be able to post the document itself.  It’s our understanding such documents are on the public record.

Before dealing with the content as we glimpsed it, a few general comments are in order.  First, whatever happened to ‘buying local’ as a sacred mantra of perfect small towns like our own?  The Kings had to go to Lewiston to find ‘corporate counsel?’ 

Think of all the local options before them: Johnny Protocols, Jackie Piranha,  Ben Tucker, Charlie P,  Ralph Tucker, and  Emmy the Booch among others, any of whom we would have expected to take the work on a pro bono basis.  But perhaps Brunswick Taxi, like the Downeaster, is looking to expand its service to Lewiston-Auburn.

Second, Other Side has offered Brunswick Taxi, from the very beginning, free access to our pages to either refute our postings, or submit their own disclosures.  We have on several occasions posted our own estimate (because no hard info was available) that they were likely drawing $200,000 or so in annual revenue for the twice a day, every day of the year round trips to Portland with a van full of Amtrak crew.  Never once did they call or write to correct that estimate, or provide hard data of any sort.  Our offer remains wide open, as it is to all about whom we post, and everyone else, for that matter.

                  

Third, we have in our possession numerous documents, by a number of writers, that detail requests to NNEPRA, Amtrak, Crew Transportation Services (an Amtrak subcontractor), and others asking for Brunswick Taxi contract information under freedom of access law.  None of these requests yielded any disclosures; in fact, the results could best be described as stiff-arms.  None of the requests were apparently forwarded to Brunswick Taxi, their corporate counsel, Travelliance, or any other intermediary.

In view of these dead-ends, our Washington Delegation (Senator King, Congresswoman Pingree, and Congressman Michaud) was asked to help in getting the information, with the same results: nothing useful.  So it’s nice to hear, in the letter, that counsel for the company is more than willing to provide whatever is wanted.  Send it along, and we’ll post it up, counselor.

Now let’s begin taking things comment by comment as we remember them:

• “My client is quite disturbed…..”  Shame on you, counselor, for suggesting what by law should be kept private.   “Disturbed” doesn’t sound particularly relevant in the legal sense, but it does remind us of the day Dale King gave us the Florida Youniversity (FYou) cheer as we drove by his Brunswick Taxi Topsham garage. (See http://othersideofbrunswick.blogspot.com/2013/11/foxtrot-yankee-duplicitous-ethics-of.html)  In a word, assertions about Brunswick Taxi have been in the public sector since late 2012; funny how being “disturbed” only surfaces now.
• “Senator Gerzofsky’s passive aggressive attack on Brunswick Taxi.”  Seems the counselor has credentials in psychoanalysis as well as the practice of law; that’s quite an unusual combination.
• “Details Unavailable” and the words following.  We understand from the Senator that just last fall, he approached Dale King as he waited near the tracks to pick up an incoming crew, and asked how much Brunswick Taxi was getting paid to provide the service.  King’s response was “I don’t know,” and the Senator asked to get a copy of the contract.  That never happened.  “Never called?”  Isn’t reaching out face to face more amiable and neighborly?
• “happy to provide you with any details.”  We think all the details should be made available.
• How many different contracts have there been, and how long did/do they run?  Will Brunswick Taxi keep getting paid through the term of the contract, even if eliminating dead-head runs ends the need for their service?  How many different Amtrak sub-contractors have the contracts been with?  If trains are cancelled and transport isn’t needed, do they still get paid?  Are they paid per run, or is there a flat payment for the term of the contract? 
• Do we have to figure out what unknowns we want to know about?  How about just providing all the details: the solicitation, the statement of work, the contract, and any other relevant info?
• “No Bid Contract” and the words following.  Perhaps the choice of those exact words confused things, but the common understanding of “no bid” in the contracting world is “sole source,” or alternatively, “non-competitive.”  The point is, “no-bid” in the sense of multiple sources bidding/competing to win a published statement of work.  Of course Brunswick Taxi had to submit their ‘bid,’ whether competitive or not.  The salient point remains: were they the only company solicited to submit a bid?  Providing all relevant solicitation documents, public notices, etc., should help clear things up.  Given the earlier comment about Senator Gerzofsky’s personal effort, the “taken the time” comment is disingenuous, if not insulting.
• “NNEPRA” and the words following.  Where do we begin?  Given the lack of response to multiple prior requests, and even some statements conflicting with counsel’s statements, is it any wonder the situation is confused?  CTS was cited in past correspondence as Amtrak’s agent in this matter; counsel is being helpful by correcting or updating these details.  It appears to us as if subcontractors come and go in this domain, or change names at least, as often as the seasons change.  CTS, LJK Companies, Travelliance, etc.  Does Brunswick Taxi have a d/b/a facade for this branch of their business?

                                 

• “Quid-Pro-Quo” and words following.  ‘Common decency’ – this from the master of the FYou salute?  Small family businesses struggling to make ends meet?  Difficult for Maine business to prosper?  So Brunswick Taxi is ‘too small to fail,’ and entitled to government bail outs?  Ethical standards…as in election practices, for example?  And municipal arrangements with developers?
• Poor Brunswick Taxi; recipient of $247,000 from the town to replace/upgrade its taxi fleet.  Who knows how much from State Government in the form of regular voucher revenue through various agencies?  And so far unknown amounts through federal Amtrak channels.  Sounds like advantages not available to those less well positioned.  If these won’t help ‘ends meet,’ it’s time to find another business.
• Quid-pro-quo should actually read “conflict of interest” since Ms. King was chair of the Town Council during all the deliberations with NNEPRA to bring passenger rail service to Brunswick.  The Kings should have insisted on a transparent, open process to dispel any concerns about conflict of interest.
• The letter closing shows what’s really at stake here.  “Brunswick Taxi requests notice of any hearing” so that “it may defend its reputation.”  As do the rest of us; what entertainment it will provide; if only we could be there for any related depositions as well.

                           

• On the plus side, counselor Bell’s signature that we saw is a wonder to behold.  It would be interesting to have a handwriting analyst with proper psychological credentials tell us what it suggests in the way of behavioral aberrations and complexes.

=======================================================================

                     

Whether it occurred to you or not, we see factors of higher import here.  Or as we think of them, “takeaways.”  Let us elaborate.

Takeaway 1:   What did the Kings hope to accomplish by having this letter written and submitted to the GOC that oversees OPEGA?  While we can’t know what their hopes were, we can opine on what it actually accomplished.  “The Lady doth protest too much, methinks” comes to mind, adding some Shakespearean drama to the investigation.  We expect the letter will raise the level of interest in how this arrangement came about at both municipal and state levels.  Tally one more egg cracked that can’t be put back into the shell.

Takeaway 2:  The details surrounding Brunswick Taxi’s arrangement provide a near perfect glimpse into the responsibility/accountability void at NNEPRA.  It seems to us the perfect admixture of ‘it’s not my job’ with profuse amounts of OPM.  Virtually no-one of importance has to worry about job security or the survival of the enterprise.  It’s not in their DNA.  Amtrak was created out of the ashes of passenger rail history, by a congress believing it could be made to work again, on a for profit basis, if you can believe it.  As one congressman recently said, Amtrak is the Post Office on rails, and just as profitable.

                         

Here’s an archived photo you might enjoy of the three OPM sisters, Municipal (MOPM), State (SOPM), and Federal (FOPM.)  (“OPM,” for the uninitiated, stands for Other Peoples’ Money; pronounced O-pee-em, most of the time.)  Here, though, we admit to liking the sound of “Moppem, Soppem, and Foppem.”  It rolls off the tongue with a certain lilt.

               

We think immediately of who is ‘responsible and accountable’ for the recent derailment just outside the Portland depot?  NNEPRA?  Amtrak?  Pan American Railways?  What organization, and what employees within that organization?  Are there subs involved that work for any of them? 

               

What about their governing bodies?  Just where does the buck stop?  Who will step up and say ‘this one stops at MY desk?’  Where is the single point of accountability?  In truth, there likely isn’t one.  Government, as clearly demonstrated in recent years, is genetically indisposed to such petty considerations afflicting the private sector. 

                               

Perhaps you built your house, like we have, and employed a general contractor, who brought with him his subcontractors, and took overall responsibility for all aspects of the construction.  Pretty straightforward.  Now ask yourself these questions:

What is the NNEPRA Governance model?  Who do NNEPRA and Patsy Quinn work for?  Their Board?  Who does the Board work for?  The Governor, or one of his Departments?  No.  The legislature?  No. The Governor  nominates for the Board, and the legislature consents, but then what?  How many layers of subcontractors does NNEPRA have?  Amtrak?  PAR?  Parsons Brinkerhoff?  Consigli?  Food service?  Drummac?

                                      

Who does Pan American Railways work for?

What is the Amtrak Governance model?  Who does Amtrak work for?  The President/Executive Branch and one of the Departments?  No.  Congress?  No.  A Board that oversees them?  Who does the Board report to?  How many layers of subcontractors does it use?  CTS?  LJK Companies, Travelliance, others?  Brunswick Taxi?

                     

There are simply too many bucks involved to keep track of.

                         

In a word, who gets the 3 am phone call when things really go off the rails?  What if there’s an environmental emergency at the MLF?

And why has track maintenance gotten to the point where 6 weeks or so of Construction Alerts are necessary?

But wait; it’s  only “temporary: ”http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/ConstructionAlert.  If memory serves, way before the damage from the winter just passed was assessed, there was a residual of 22,000 ties still to be replaced after last year’s ‘hard winter.’  Most would agree the recent winter was worse than the one before; who knows how much will be added to the scope known at this time.  Hence, these encouraging words:

The specific timing of the 2015 Tie Replacement Project is subject to change, but will likely end on or about June 15, 2015.

We hope you’ll agree there are more than enough “GA” concerns here for OPEGA to sink their teeth into.  (Government Accountability)

======================================================================

Updating things, we just saw AAB posted this note on the TRNE Facebook page:

The Brunswick Layover Facility will: “significantly reduce NNEPRA’s operating expenses for fuel, crew overtime, and taxi service to transport crew between Brunswick and Portland.”

We wonder if AAB knows the exact figures for that last item; they know everything about everything else.  Except the specifics of economic benefit to Brunswick.

Given the ‘making ends meet’ small business tears rhetoric above, we can begin to see why the Kings didn’t pursue their legal counsel from E. Boochever, Esq.  We look forward to juicy and entertaining internecine squabbles about ‘not supporting each other.’

All in all, the collective circumstances should make for a nice sales pitch when the Kings get ready to sell the business next year, when the terms of the BDC forgivable loan allow them to do so.

Wrapping up,  we’ll do our best to keep you posted as things unfold.  Meanwhile, be careful where you walk; not every dog picks up after themselves, or can afford an attorney to do it for them.

                                  

Maybe one of these days we can kibitz about this over coffee; just keep in mind that if and when we do, we pretty much follow the happy blogger’s code of journalistic ethics. 

Figuratively speaking, that is.

Technorati Tags: NNEPRA,Brunswick Taxi,Kings