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

DeSoto's Competition With Green Cab, And An Analysis On Whether Back Seat Tip Prompters Improve Drivers' Incomes. By John Han.

File photos by John Han.

Earlier this year a contest began between the presidents of DeSoto Cab and Green Cab, to see if tips prompted by rear seat passenger information monitors, (PIMs), really increases a driver's tip percentages, thus making drivers more money.  

Part of the reasoning behind PIMs was that if they were to increase drivers'  tip percentages, then 5% credit card charges imposed upon drivers would become a non-issue, since higher income from PIMs would 'more than make up for the credit card costs'.

The idea caught on.

Hansu Kim, DeSoto Cab's president, is and has been one of the industry's most ardent proponent of getting PIMs installed in San Francisco, and for allowing cab drivers to legally incur a 5% credit card cost.

Recap Of MTA Board Of Directors Meeting Held Tuesday, December 6th, 2011. By John Han.

MTA Board of Directors meeting,Tuesday, December 6,

2011.  Image from SFGovTV.

The MTA Board of Directors, (Municipal Transportation Agency), revisited 5% credit card fees, rear seat passenger information monitors (PIMs), and electronic waybills at its Tuesday, December 6^th, 2011 regular meeting.

This was item #16 on the agenda and was for discussion only. In it, Nelson Nygaard presented its report on the three topics. 

The Board also voted 4-2 in favor of item #17, which includes expanding the Medallion Sales Pilot Program, by dropping the sellers' age requirement from 70 years old to 65. Now, medallion holders who are at least 65 years old instead of 70, and have a full-time driving requirement, or who have acquired a disability and are unable to drive, can now be eligible to sell their medallions under the pilot program.

According to MTA Deputy Director of Taxi Services Christiane Hayashi, there are currently about 135 medallion holders between the ages of 65 and 70 in San Francisco. But that number includes both Pre K and Prop K holders combined. And since Item #17, which passed, temporarily eliminates Pre K holders from being qualified as sellers, it's uncertain how many new sellers that would mean.  But it would be less than 135.

Quick Thought On Yesterday's MTA Board Of Directors Meeting. Cab Companies Want 500 More Cabs. By John Han.

File Photo by John Han

Cab company reps were at it again, taking the opportunity at Tuesday's MTA Board of Directors meeting, to urge the directors to issue 500 more taxicabs. This, after the MTA has already authorized 87 new medallions in August.

Under item #17 of the agenda, which included lowering medallion seller's ages from 70 to 65 under the Pilot Program, Yellow Cab manager Richie Wiener, added that the City should put out another 100 medallions right away.  Then, Marty Smith, manager of Luxor Cab, acknowledged Wiener's comment, but took the bolder step to urge the City that it should be 500.

I would like to take this moment to try to bring to the attention of readers, and hopefully the regulators, a response to this plea.

Nelson Nygaard Releases Study On 5% Credit Card Fees, Rear Seat Payment Terminals, And Electronic Waybills. Presentation Scheduled For MTA Board Meeting Tuesday, December 6, 2011. By John Han.

Rear Seat Passenger Information Monitor (PIM).  

File photo by John Han

The consulting firmed hired by San Francisco to study 5% credit card fees, rear seat passenger information monitors (PIMs), and electronic waybills, has completed its study and has now published its report.

The study, conducted by Nelson Nygaard, is scheduled to be presented with recommendations to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) at it's regular Board meeting, Tuesday, December 6, 2011. (Under agenda item #16)

The firm, in its report, makes nine recommendations, including setting a minimum amount to passengers paying with credit cards, without specifying what a minimum should be.

North Beach Business Owners Want More Taxi Stands. By John Han.

San Francisco taxicab.  File photo by John Han.

According to the SF Examiner, North Beach business owners want more taxi stands in their neighborhood, in hopes that it would help boost their business clientele.

Click Here to read the SF Examiner's article.

How about that?  Business owners wishing to help taxi drivers do their jobs easier, with the notion that doing so could help them do their jobs easier as well.

What a concept!  Thanks North Beach business owners!  You get a coolness award!  Thanks for thinking about us, so that we can think about you too.

I haven't driven nights in a long time.  But when I did, I remember the spot facing the Broadway tunnel (westbound) just near the corner of Broadway and Columbus, right in front of the Roaring 20's.  That was always a good spot to stop and wait for a fare on Saturday nights.  It was hardly ever a long wait.  I got a Walnut Creek out of that spot once, and some other good rides along with regular in town fares.

It seems that that would be one good place.  Hey MTA, how 'bout that?

Final Town Hall Meeting Schedule. From SFMTA.

TAXI ADVISORY COUNCIL

MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2011

COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT-REGULATORY REFORM – FINAL TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE

TAXI ADVISORY COUNCIL

MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2011

COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT: INDIVIDUAL PRE-K MEDALLIONS

FINAL Taxi Town Hall Meeting Dates and Topics 2011

Date and Time	Topic
November 14: TAC meeting 1:00-4:00 pm Town Hall Meeting: 6:00-8:00 pm	Consideration of proposals for the future of taxi medallion sales
Nov. 15: 2:00-5:00 pm & 5:00-8:00 pm	Consideration of proposals for the future of taxi medallion sales
Nov. 22: 2:00-5:00 pm & 5:00-8:00 pm	The new airport smartcard system Should there be an airport flat rate? Should Daly City taxicabs be allowed to service the southern border of the City?
November 28: TAC meeting 1:00-4:00 pm Town Hall Meeting: 5:00-8:00 pm	Consideration of proposals for the future of taxi medallion sales
Dec. 12: 6:00-8:00 pm	Results of Illegal Vehicle Enforcement. State law agenda for upcoming legislative session.
Dec. 13: 6:00-8:00 pm	What is the appropriate role of a dispatch service as compared to a color scheme?   Should there be any change to the permitting structure for these two types of businesses?
Dec. 20: 2:00-5:00 pm & 5:00-8:00 pm	Consideration of proposals for the future of taxi medallion sales

Of the 184 individual pre-K medallion holders who hold the remaining 256 pre-K medallions:

1. 68 people, representing 102 medallions, were eligible to participate in the last round of sales and elected not to when they had an opportunity in April-May 2010, or they participated in the Pilot Program but declined to sell their medallion when an offer was made.  These people will be age 71 or older on December 31, 2011.  Of these:

Taxi Driver Who Struck Bicyclist Did Not Run Red Light. Windshield Mounted Camera Gives Proof. By John Han..

Janus V2 windshield mounted video/audio recorder by 3rd Eye Cam.
File photo by John Han.

It has been confirmed that the taxi driver who reportedly ran a red light and struck a bicyclist, may be exonerated, and deemed innocent of the allegation.  

For those who haven't read, on Sunday, October 30th, at about 2am, a driver of a Town Taxi struck a 22-year old bicyclist, at the intersection of Cesar Chavez and Guerrero streets.  The accident reportedly left the bicyclist with head injuries that are considered to be life threatening. 

According to the SF Examiner, a police spokesman said that the taxi driver ran a red light heading eastbound on Cesar Chavez St., while the bicyclist was traveling southbound on Guerrero.