Permanent Medallion Sales Program (General Overview). By John Han.

File photo by John Han.

This article contains some of the main themes raised by proposals for a permanent medallion sales program.  Summaries of the proposals are available at the end of this article.  

Item 1: DRIVERS AT THE TOP OF THE WAITING LIST

Out of the seven proposals submitted, six of them specifically address the waiting list. The other seventh one, Ruach's proposal, addresses seniority.

While all the proposals regard drivers on the waiting list as a major concern, they offer differing ways to approach it.  Continue reading to see what they are.

From The SMTA. Taxi Advisory Council Agenda For Monday, January 30, 2012.

(Note that Monday's January 30th TAC meeting will be held on the 8th Floor Room 8244, at One South Van Ness Avenue, not in the 2nd Floor Atrium.)

Taxicab That Collided With Muni Bus May Be Unlicensed And Illegal. By John Han.

File photo by John Han.

In case you haven't read about it yet, a taxicab collided with a Muni bus this morning at about 10 am outside of the Hall of Justice.  That's according to reporter Dan McManamin of the Bay City News wire.

Accidents happen, but this taxicab may have been ILLEGAL.  CLICK HERE to read the story published on SF Appeal.  Then be sure to look at the photo in the SF Appeal showing the rear of the taxi.  On the rear, it reads, "Taxicab", but doesn't display what city or county it's from.  

In San Francisco, we in the taxi industry know that all taxicabs must say, "San Francisco Taxicab".  Also, Oakland cabs say "City of Oakland", Marin County cabs and South SF cabs also display their proper cities and counties.  This cab does not.  

Now, CLICK HERE to see the photo published in SFist.  Notice the phone number doesn't have an area code.  Could be a bogus phone number?   

Is this an illegal cab?  I'd like to know.

Message From SFMTA - Town Hall Meetings Schedule - Recommendations For Medallion Reform.

This is to inform you that there will be a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday February 14, from 1:30 to 3:30pm, and from 4:30 to 7:30pm on the subject of the SFMTA staff recommendations on medallion reform.

This meeting is scheduled to follow the February 13, 2012 Taxi Advisory Council meeting, by which time we expect that the TAC will have made its recommendation for medallion reform to the Board of Directors. 

The TAC will be discussing the subject of medallion reform at its meeting of January 30, 2012, which will be held in in the Second Floor Atrium Conference Room at One South Van Ness beginning at 1:00pm (This should actually say 8th Floor Room 8244.  [J. Han]).  The subject may also be continued to the following Taxi Advisory Council meeting scheduled for February 13, 2012 at the same time and location.

Summary Of Proposals For The Permanent Medallion Sales Program. By John Han.

File photo by John Han.

(Part 2 of 2)

This is the second half of the Summary Of Proposals For The Permanent Medallion Sales Program.

Like in the first article, the proposals are listed randomly, in no order of preference. 

Ed Healy's Proposal:

Ed Healy's proposal contains six key recommendations. Here they are as they're worded in the proposal, with some comments in parentheses and italics.

1. The waiting list should continue until all the drivers on it have been given their earned medallions. (This is a fine and worthy sentiment, but there is no recommendation in the proposal on how to implement a strategy. For example, how many newly issued medallions would this require? And, what is roughly the time it could take?... 10 years, 30 years? No ballpark estimates.)
2. The age for selling should be lowered to 65
3. All taxicabs should be operated on a “gate and gas” basis. (Another worthy sentiment, but again, it needs more meat. For example, what would be the projected cost, even a rough estimate, for the City of San Francisco to shut down all Affiliate and Long Term Lease operations over three year's time?... and how feasible is it? What lawsuits, if any, could incur?)

Summary of Proposals For The Permanent Medallion Sales Program. By John Han.

Photo by John Han.

(Part 1 of 2)

Introduction:

On January 30, 2012, the Taxi Advisory Council (TAC) is expected to approve final recommendations for a more permanent method of taxi medallion sales in San Francisco.

In light of the test program known as the “Medallion Sales Pilot Program” being at an end, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), in October of 2011, issued a public notice inviting members of the public to submit recommendations to the TAC, regarding a future, more permanent approach towards medallion sales.

Recommendations were submitted by:

The San Francisco Cab Drivers' Association (SFCDA), Luxor Cab, Richard Moles, Mark Gruberg, Ruach Graffis, Carl Macmurdo, and Ed Healy.

Message From SFMTA.

The SFMTA is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Taxi Advisory Council for a driver who is NOT on the waiting list to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of William Minikel.

Please send your applications to this email address SFTaxi@SFMTA.com, or by mail to:

TAC Application

SFMTA Taxi Services

1 South Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94103

Applications must be received by January 31, 2012