Taxi wars

Many East Rockaway homeowners found pastel-colored fliers in their doors the first week in November, warning residents to “beware” of the opening of a new taxi company in the village and cautioning that it was an “undesirable element” coming into their community.

The author, identified only as “Concerned Resident,” urged people to attend the Nov. 9 village board meeting to speak out against the new company if “you love this community, and do not want to jeopardize the quality of life that we have.”

The meeting’s public special session, which focused on the application of the company, East Rockaway Transportation Inc., to operate in the village, quickly turned confrontational, with representatives of rival companies All Island Transportation, Valley Stream Taxi and Frank’s Taxi taking turns speaking out against the new business and its owner, John Eakin.

“I believe this application should be denied for several reasons,” said Lawrence Blessinger Jr., owner of All Island. “I don’t know if the board knows that [Eakin’s application] was denied in Malverne.” Blessinger added that Eakin had been operating his taxi depot illegally out of 2 Centre Ave., before any application was approved. “I have proof that he has been operating out of the Centre Avenue location,” Blessinger said, presenting to the board what he said were passenger receipts to that effect. “This is just one example of how Mr. Eakin operates.” Blessinger said. All Island has 10 locations - one a new office in Lynbrook, which replaced an older spot under the Lynbrook train station.

Mayor Ed Sieban said that a summons had been issued to Eakin to “cease and desist” from operating out of the Centre Avenue location — although Eakin denied that he was operating out of there. “I would like to tell Mr. Blessinger - ‘you ought to get a life’. I’m surprised he had time to come here tonight, he was so busy circling 2 Centre Avenue all day.” Eakin also said that the receipts were from people who were sent to East Rockaway Taxi by Blessinger.