Update On The Week In Taxis. By John Han

SF City Hall.  Photo by John Han.

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE  (City Hall):

The San Francisco Public Safety Committee approved legislation Thursday making it a misdemeanor to provide taxicab service in the City without proper permits.  Supervisors Ross Mirkirimi and Malia Cohen voted in favor of the ordinance.  Supervisor David Campos was absent.

The law includes allowing SFMTA to hire taxi investigators to issue up to $5000 in fines and impound vehicles that have been caught operating as taxicabs without permits.  A handful of taxi drivers and company reps, during public comment, unanimously supported the law.  But an attorney representing Uber, a town car and limousine dispatch service opposed it, saying it will wrongfully prohibit licensed limousine drivers from picking up passengers in San Francisco who are using its service.  The law is sponsored by president of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu.  It is expected to be heard at the full Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

LAST MONDAY'S TAXI ADVISORY COUNCIL (held February 14, 2011):

At last Monday's TAC meeting, we discussed Uniform Lease Agreements.  SFMTA had presented a rough draft version of an agreement.  But it took only moments before the TAC concluded that a "one size fits all", uniform lease agreement would likely be inadequate to regulate the entire industry, and therefore would most likely need to be five separate standardized lease agreements.  In no order of importance, they are...

1)  Between the Color Scheme and the Affiliate
2)  Between the Affiliate to the Affiliate's drivers     (Affiliate is the primary driver)
3)  Between the Long term lessee (LTL) to the LTL's drivers (LTL is primary driver)
4)  Between the Color Scheme to its Gate and Gas drivers
5)  Between the Affiliate to Primary Driver Lessee/LTL     (Pre K Affiliate with no driving requirement.  LTL is primary driver)

As far as the details of what should be in a uniform lease agreement, a taxi town hall meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 22, 2011 for review and discussion, as there are no details to date.

It was suggested that cab companies volunteer viewings of the lease agreements they already use at their companies, so that an aggregate of existing agreements from various companies could serve as a skeletal reference or template.

The meeting will be held in the 2nd Floor Atrium, 1 South Vanness Avenue, 2 to 5 pm, and 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

F.Y.I. California Law Protects Independent Contractors

Here's a tidbit of fact about California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).  It protects independent contractors from specific types of harassment at the workplace, (but not discrimination?).  Here's an excerpt from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

"The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504):

• Prohibit harassment of employees, applicants, and independent contractors by any persons and require employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment. This includes a prohibition against sexual harassment, gender harassment, and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions."  (Bold italics with underline are mine.)”

View all of the California Fair Employment And Housing Act (FEHA), Government Code Sections 12900-12996.

New York's Taxi TVs Coming To San Francisco? By John Han

They're already here.  I've now been in a couple of SF taxis that have these.  And I have a feeling more of them, lots more, are on the way. 

They are called “Taxi TVs”… credit card machines positioned in the back seats of cabs that passengers can swipe themselves.  They have small, flat screen TVs that play a continuous loop of news, sports, and weather… and non-stop advertising.  Lots of New York cabs have them.  I wouldn’t doubt that a lot of riders there like them. 

But meanwhile, it’s also a fact that a lot of riders have said they are loud and annoying.  Some have gone as far as saying they are an intrusion of their privacy. 

Here's what one New Yorker said.  

“SPsGhost 3 hours ago - The payment by credit card is the most useful thing this system has brought about. There are other elements of functionality that are probably helpful to have too, like the gps tracking. But the TV's are garbage. Useless, annoying, a waste of money for all involved. They are bloatware. Some marketing hack sold the idea to the TLC as means by which to raise advertising money, but I guarantee you that ad space is worthless. They should just be axed as far a "content" goes and used solely to display the rules and fare information, which is only displayed once and then goes away, and to facilitate the credit card payment.”

(Posted on the New York daily weblog, "Gothemist", February 11, 2011, in the reader comment section of the following article titled, “Survey Says:  Cab Riders HATE Taxi TV”.)

-  New York recently surveyed 22,000 riders in which they were asked what they thought was the worst thing about New York taxis.  What did the survey reveal?  It’s in this excerpt of the article published on the Gothemist…

SF Gate Reports Serious Traffic Changes At Union Square.

Driving around Union Square gets tougher

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Most San Francisco drivers know that cruising around Union Square is a pleasure only for the patient what with all the jaywalkers, cable cars, tourists in rental cars, taxis, buses, one-way streets and distracting sights.

And it's about to get worse. Construction crews last week began closing off and rerouting sidewalks so they can relocate utilities to make way for the Central Subway. But as of Wednesday, that plan will be changed. Stockton Street will be closed -- one block at a time -- to private vehicles for the next 10 months. One lane of traffic will remain open to buses, taxis, tour buses and delivery vehicles only. Work zones and temporary sidewalks will take up the rest of the street

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=82604#ixzz1Dbg8a100

A First Look At SFMTA's Draft Uniform Lease Agreement. By John Han.

The agenda item for the next Taxi Advisory Council meeting, to be held Monday, February 14^th Valentine’s Day, will be “Uniform Lease Agreements”.  SFMTA has already put out a preliminary draft version at the last meeting of a lease agreement that can be viewed in full here. 

What will define a uniform lease agreement as either good or disastrous for drivers will depend upon what’s in it.  And SFMTA has offered a public preview of what’s in it, and what’s likely to come.

First off, the draft is titled “Uniform San Francisco Taxi Medallion Lease Agreement”.  A one size fits all? 

Oddly enough, it would appear to focus closely on a four layer system in which medallion holders or owners should affiliate with a color scheme, and then lease the medallion to a primary driver/long-term lessee (but not for more than three years), who would then lease shifts to ordinary taxi drivers as “secondary” drivers via a “shift agreement”… but the contents of the shift agreement not being viewable, because it’s not included in the draft.

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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