A Message From The San Francisco Cab Drivers' Association (SFCDA)... Impact of the Medallion Sales Pilot Program on Drivers.

By Barry Korengold, President of the SFCDA

At this Monday's Taxi Advisory Council meeting (January 24th), we'll be continuing discussion on the effects the Pilot Program has had on drivers on and off the list.  It will be a continuation of last weeks discussion, where I presented a report enumerating some of the negative effects the pilot program has had on those at the top of the list.  I'm aware that for many, the pilot program has given them the opportunity to buy a medallion, which they otherwise would have had to wait several years for, but it's also meant that many who have already waited 10 or 15 years, will either not get one at all, or have to wait several additional years.

Most qualified drivers at the top of the list have already put in at least 15 to 20 years behind the wheel of a cab, and have at some time or another been robbed, assaulted, crashed into by negligent drivers, driven to their wits end, worn their backs out and more, yet many proponents of total transferability still like to say these drivers are receiving a "free" medallion if they don't purchase it and give close to half the money to the city and the banks.

This new system is devaluating the medallions.  Even if the new owners will be able to eventually sell them and have equity, they will have less than if they were to have put that same money into a savings account!

If you're high on the list, and feel you're now having to wait longer for your medallion, or being unduly pressured to purchase one, it's important for you to show up at this Monday's TAC meeting and share your feelings.  The TAC will be making recommendations soon for a more permanent solution and we need to hear from those who would be affected negatively by a total transferability system.

There will likely be drivers who'll say how happy they are to have been able to jump the line by paying the fee.  I'm sure if they allowed drivers in the third lot at the airport to pay $10 to go to the head of the line, they'd be happy too.  The drivers in the first lot might not be so happy however.

The following is a report presented by SFCDA at the last Taxi Advisory Council meeting held January 10, 2011.

Presented by Barry Korengold 

Pilot Program Effects on Drivers 

From SFMTA

Last chance to renew your A-Card without penalty!!!! 

WHEN? 

Drivers must renew their A-Cards by January 31 to avoid penalty fees. 

PENALTIES FOR NON-PAYMENT 

• Payments made beginning November 30- Jan 31: No penalty fee 

• Payments made beginning February 1 - 28: 10% penalty fee 

• Payments made beginning March 1 - 30: 15% penalty fee 

• Payments made beginning April 1 – April 30: Drivers must complete an application for a Public Passenger Vehicle Driver Permit (A-Card), pay applicable filing fee, license fee and 25% penalty fee 

• May 1, 2011 the permit shall expire by operation of law. Drivers must obtain a new permit pursuant to MPC Section 1089 and pay all applicable fees. 

Office Hours for A-Card Renewal: 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only between 9:00-11:30am and 2:00-4:00pm 

WE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2011 

WHERE to Pay? 

Payments can be made at the SFMTA Taxi Services, One South Van Ness Ave, 1^st Floor – Drivers must check in with the security desk first and will be given instruction upon arrival. 

HOW MUCH? 

The current renewal fee is $88.50 + any outstanding fees from previous years

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency San Francisco Municipal Railway | Department of Parking & Traffic | Division of Taxis & Accessible Services One S. Van Ness Avenue, Seventh Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Tel: 415.701.4400 | Fax: 415.701.5437 | www.sfmta.com 

Taxi Stands At Temporary Transbay Terminal. From SFMTA

Please (click here to see) attached for information about two taxi stands in the temporary Transbay Terminal:

·      Greyhound circular driveway off Folsom St.

·       Howard St. adjacent to the paratransit area (Note: curb color and signage is not completed)

The Transbay Terminal planners will be making a presentation about the project at an upcoming (as yet unscheduled) Taxi Advisory Council meeting.  Taxi Advisory Council meeting agendas can be checked at the following website:

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/ctac/tacindx.htm

Peak Time Trials. By Jane Bolig.

Photo by John Han.

Jane Bolig is president of De Soto Cab.  

It’s obvious why peak time franchise permits might be attractive to SFMTA: The cab industry makes the investment and takes the risk, while MTA enjoys the rewards. In theory. In practice, risk is not so easily shed.

Good alternatives that work for customers, the industry and SFMTA—while bringing in revenue—do exist.

John Han early last year proposed single operator medallions: cabs driven by just one person, presumably at the busiest times.

Chris Hayashi’s proposal for peak time company medallions—minus the franchise element—is also worth exploring.

Carl Macmurdo and I independently made proposals at the November 22 TAC Meeting. I expect that Carl and others will expand on their ideas very shortly. But I’d also like to share my own, meant not as a final solution, but a test of reasonable ideas to find out which work best.

The Phantom Cab Driver Phites Back. Ed Healy.

Fleet Taxis and Employees

The dawn of the New Year seems a good time for exercises in nostalgia and theory.

President of Desoto Cab, Jane Bolig, wants a return to the good old days when cab companies owned corporate permits. In a TaxiTownSF post,  Remembrance of Peak Times Past, she writes that San Francisco didn't need Peak Time permits back in the good old 60's because Old Yellow Cab owned its medallions and didn't have to pay the medallion holder the fees that cripple companies today.

"To pay them (the fees),"  Jane says, "they (the cab companies)  have to put out all their cabs every shift, every day of the week, every week of the year. That is why drivers fight for rides most Sunday mornings and passengers can’t find cabs any Friday night."

Old Yellow was apparently so profitable that they could "hold back unneeded cabs (sometimes equaling 40% of its fleet)" on slow days and put cabs out when it was busy. "It’s why we discuss peak time medallions in 2010," Jane says, "and why we didn’t in 1968."

The thrust of Jane's essay is that allowing cab companies to have fleet medallions would cure all our peak time problems.

Simple as that!

Unfortunately, Jane is leaving out parts of the equation.

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