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.

(Solution) - Scaled Pricing Method:

Carl Macmurdo, president of the Medallion Holders' Association, and long-time taxi driver Richard Moles, both suggest their own versions of a “Scaled Pricing Method”. That means the people at the top of the list would either initially pay no money, or purchase a medallion at a comparatively low, very low cost. The price for purchasing medallions would then increase incrementally, driver by driver, as offers go down the list to drivers.

A “Scaled Pricing Method” would only work with the issuing of new medallions, as no current medallion holder would likely be willing to sell their medallions at a “scaled down” price. To offer a scaled pricing system to the top two hundred or so drivers on the list, two hundred or so new medallions would have to be issued. This raises another point.

One may be inclined to think that the decision to issue new full-time medallions should be determined solely by the public's needs for more available transportation. Thus, thorough research, yet to be conducted, should determine whether more full-time medallions are needed, or only part-time medallions... or both. And if it's both, then what the distribution ratio between the two should be.

But issuing new full time medallions mainly to address concerns over the waiting list, or to appease taxi-leasing firms that covet medallions, means that new issuances are as much of a socio-political issue, or even a labor issue, and not just transportation.

(Also, Richard Moles proposes that drivers who purchase a medallion should be able to remain on the waiting list. After time, when their name reaches the top of the list, they would be allowed to resell their medallion, and receive an “earned” medallion issued to the list.)

(Solution) - Capping The Number Of Transferable Medallions:

The San Francisco Cab Drivers' Association (SFCDA), Mark Gruberg, and Ruach Graffis each suggest capping the number of transferable medallions.

The SFCDA recommends one-third be transferable, leaving two-thirds non-transferable. The SFCDA says, “When new medallions are issued, one third of that number would become transferable. In other words, if 30 medallions are issued, 10 more medallions would become transferable. If 60 new medallions are issued, 20 previously existing medallions would become transferable, etc.”

Ruach's proposal would end all sales of medallions beyond medallions already sold. When Pre K and Prop K medallions are returned, they would be re-issued to drivers qualified by age or by time served in the industry, and/or disability. That would do away with the waiting list.

Mark Gruberg's proposal doesn't get into specifics but says only that a “certain number or percentage” of medallions should be non-transferable.

Other:

Luxor's proposal would allow all medallion holders to sell. And the first offers would be made to the drivers at the top of the list. After that, drivers with at least five years experience could become eligible buyers.

Luxor says, “Protect the interests of drivers on the waiting list by committing to provide a substantial number (hundreds) more medallions to the list over future years.”

Ed Healy's proposal says all drivers on the waiting list should get an earned medallion.

Item 2: “CONFLICT OF INTEREST. MTA's Gain In Revenue From Medallion Sales.

Out of the seven proposals, six of them recommend, in their own different ways, to lower the transfer fees that the City collects from selling medallions, or to stop SFMTA from selling medallions outright.

Despite the differing aspects, the common theme may be that the MTA is taking too much cut from the sales.

Ed Healy recommends that the City only receive 10% of the sale price down from the 15% that it currently gets, while at the same time, increasing the Drivers' Fund share from its current 5% and bring it up to 10%. That way, the City and the Drivers Fund shares would be equal. Ed also recommends that, “all the money the SFMTA takes in should be put back into the cab industry.”

Quotes from the others include...

Mark Gruberg: “The agency's role as a regulator is tainted by its financial interest in medallion sales. I believe money now going to the agency from medallion sales should be redirected to the Driver Fund. If the MTA is unwilling to give up its share of revenues from the private sale of medallions, at least it should relinquish the benefit it gains from direct sales, since that clearly constitutes a conflict of interest in the light of its regulatory functions.”

SFCDA: “The City should sell no more medallions outright, as each one deprives a career working cab driver from obtaining their medallion, which can be compared in other industries, with tenure or a management position after usually at least 20 years on the road.”

Carl Macmurdo: “Noting that resale fee percentages in other jurisdictions are much lower than the 20% currently defined in the Transportation Code, San Francisco should reduce its rate significantly. In New York City, the resale fee is 5% for previously purchased medallions. A similar, relatively low resale fee rate should apply to Prop. A medallions and also to any K and pre-K medallions for which transfer rights are subsequently purchased.”

Richard Moles: “The transfer fee should be reduced depending on how many years the medallion was owned.”

SFCDA, Mark Gruberg, and Ruach Graffis all recommend that the SFMTA should no longer sell medallions outright.

Luxor Cab encourages the MTA to continue receiving its current rate of revenue.

Item 3: REDUCED DRIVING REQUIREMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SELLING MEDALLIONS.

SFCDA: “We propose that when a medallion holder reaches the age of 55, the driving requirement could be voluntarily reduced to 600 hours and the holder would contribute $100 a month or $1,200 a year to be split between the SFMTA and the Drivers Fund.

When a medallion holder reaches the age of 60, the driving requirement could voluntarily be reduced to 400 hours and a contribution of $200 a month ($2,400 a year) would be split between the SFMTA and the Drivers Fund.

When a medallion holder reaches 65 or becomes disabled, the driving requirement could voluntarily be eliminated with a $400 monthly contribution ($4,800 a year) to the SFMTA and the Drivers Fund.  The medallion holder would still retain the medallion and still be able to drive.

To allow for inflation and market changes, these payments could also be set at a comparable percentage to medallion income instead of a dollar figure.

All reduced or eliminated driving requirement medallions would be run as gate and gas cabs.  This would create stability for companies as well as maintain available shifts for drivers.

A medallion holder would have the option to sell when they reach 65.  If they chose to hold on to their medallion with a reduced or eliminated driving requirement, they would retain their medallion the rest of their life, but would no longer have the option to sell.  When these medallion holders die, their medallions would go back to the list.  A medallion holder over 65 who continues driving, could make this decision when they no longer wish to drive.”

SFCDA claims its plan could yield roughly the same City revenues as would transfer fees from selling medallions.

Carl Macmurdo also proposes to allow, “a very limited number of K permittees”, to reduce or eliminate their driving requirement in exchange for ceding their medallions to the City upon death.

Mark Gruberg and Ruach Graffis proposals both include alternatives to selling by having more drivers, or by having all drivers making mandatory contributions to a retirement fund.

Luxor does not offer any alternative to selling.

I cannot pretend to have covered all the relevant issues involved with a permanent medallion sales program.  I have tried to highlight what I consider to be the big three issues.  But there is so much more.  

Below is a copy of the, “Alternate Proposals Summary”, by Chris Sweis, who is chair of the Taxi Advisory Council.  As chair, his summary is likely the official summary of the proposals.   

But also available on this website is Part 1, and Part 2 of summaries I've written, with links to the full texts of the proposals.

CHRIS SWEIS' SUMMARY:

Alternate Proposals Summary

By: Chris Sweis

Proposal 1 (Continuing Sales)

1. Number of transferrable medallions is capped at 1/3 of total number of medallions.
2. No more outright medallion sales by SFMTA.
3. Reduced driving requirement with contribution to driver’s fund for older or disabled permit holders.
   1. These would also be run solely as gas and gate.
   2. A permanent retirement decision can be made of either eliminating the driving requirement or selling the permit anytime after the age of 65.
4. Once the waiting list is exhausted medallions would be distributed according to A-Card seniority.

Proposal 2 (Continuing Sales)

1. All permit holders are allowed to sell.
   1. Once waiting list is exhausted all drivers with 5 years experience are eligible as buyers.
2. Commit hundreds of medallions to be newly issued to individuals on the waiting list without purchase.
3. Lease non-medallion permits to operate to Full-service cab companies on 3 year leases.

Proposal 3 (Continuing Sales)

1. Over 2 years issue 100 medallions to the waiting list without purchase and 100 for purchase with graduated discount for the first 100.
2. Reduction of SFMTA re-sale transaction fee to 5%.
3. Waiver of driving requirement with commitment to sell within fixed time period.
4. One month window annually allowing permit holders to commit to selling so heirs could sell if permit holder dies prematurely.
5. Allowing a limited number of K permitees to retain their permit without a driving requirement after  a commitment to return permit to the city upon death.

Proposal 4 (Continuing Sales)

1. Ability for k and pre-k permit holders to purchase transfer rights by paying transfer fees in advance.

Proposal 5 (Continuing Sales)

1. Allowing medallion buyers to retain their position on the waiting list and sell a purchased medallion once they are eligible for an earned medallion.
2. Pro-rating the medallion purchase price for those on the waiting list based on their time on the waiting list.
   1. Purchase price ÷ highest # of years on waitlist = discount per year. Each person would have   their purchase price discounted by number of years on waitlist x discount per year.
   2. Transfer fees would also be pro-rated.

Proposal 6 (Continuing Sales)

1. Newly issued medallions and revocations should go to drivers on the waiting list without purchase.
2. Age for selling a medallion should be lowered to 65.
3. All taxicabs should be operated as gas and gates.
4. Transfer fee distribution should be changed to 10% for MTA and 10% for Driver Fund.
5. All revenues generated from the taxicab industry should be re-invested in the taxicab industry.
6. Creation of a cab driver’s bill of rights.

Proposal 7 (Continuing and Discontinuing Sales)

1. Issuing temporary sedan medallions to ramp permit holders who have served the disabled community for 7 years and re-issuing ramped medallions to the bottom of the waiting list.
   1. Re-issued ramp medallions will be permanent ramp medallions.
2. Driver Fund to be created to help with medallion purchases and subsequent healthcare for drivers.
   1. $50,000 payment into fund will allow permit holders to auction medallion rather than sell for fixed price.

Proposal 8 (Continuing Sales)

1. Medallion prices should remain regulated at 250K with adjustments for inflation.
2. Medallions should be issued exclusively to qualified cab drivers.
3. A percentage of medallions should remain non-transferrable and issued to qualified cab drivers without purchase.
4. Medallion holders should be given the choice between selling their permit or relinquishing it for continuing income.
5. An elected or appointed board of directors comprised of drivers should manage the driver fund.
6. SFMTA should not have a financial interest in medallion sales.

Proposal 9 (Discontinuing Sales)

1. Only Single Operator Medallions will be newly issued moving forward.
2. Permit holders pay into the driver’s fund based on the type of medallion they possess.
3. Ramped medallions will be issued directly to companies.
   1. Employee drivers will operate ramped medallions