Angry Readers And Angry Comments, on Taxi TownSF

Photo by John Han.

(Updated Notice From The Publisher)  It was originally conceived that this website would be a platform for anyone to express any view, uncensored, as long as they were relevant to the taxi industry.

The idea was that any reader who then subsequently may have found an author's views to be frivolous could comment in the comment box, and effectively correct any erroneous statements, views, etc.  For example, in comments made under the entry entitled, "San Francisco Taxi Driver Robbed Again, April 22, 2011.  By Dean Clark.", it is conceivable that the author could be edified by the responses from readers, and thus influence  an author's original outlook. 

But as a response to the comments made under that entry, changes have been made to the "Submit A Post" section. Any future submissions will be checked for factual accuracy, spelling and grammar, and "descriptive accuracy". Submissions will be sent back to the author for corrections and changes when necessary. If you're interested, click on "Submit a Post" to see new criteria.

Thanks!

Also, an anonymous person put a fair, but critical comment about taxi drivers on "Ask A Cab Driver".  Here's the person's comment, and then my response.

Taxi Town Hall Meetings Are Scheduled. From the SFMTA.

SFMTA TAXI SERVICES TOWN HALL MEETING

About the Taxi Town Hall meetings...

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) periodically schedules “Taxi Town Hall” meetings in order to provide an open forum to discuss matters that affect the San Francisco taxi industry.

These are informal meetings, in which members of the taxi industry and members of the public are invited to attend to express their ideas and opinions about issues that are important to you relating to taxis in San Francisco.

Upcoming Dates/Topics for Town Hall Meeting

2nd Floor Atrium, 1 South Van Ness Avenue

South Van Ness Avenue and Market Street, at the Van Ness Muni Metro subway station; Muni bus routes 6, 14, 14L, 47, 49, 71, 71L and the F Line

Date Topic

May 11, 2011, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meter Increase, Credit Card Fees & Passenger Information Monitors (PIMs)

May 16, 2011, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Electronic Waybills & Peak Time Permits

Additional dates will be posted as they are scheduled.

Recap of Monday’s Taxi Advisory Council Meeting, April 24, 2011. By John Han.

At last Monday's Taxi Advisory Council (TAC) meeting April 24, 2011, the council passed a motion making a preliminary recommendation to continue selling medallions beyond the duration of the pilot program, and to continue selling indefinitely.  The motion, introduced by Carl Macmurdo and seconded by Athen Rebelos, passed with a 9-5 vote.  The aye votes were Jim Gillespie, Laurie Graham, John Lazar, Athen Rebelos, David Khan, Dmitry Nazorov, Richard Hybels, Dan Hinds, and Carl Macmurdo.  The no votes were John Han, Chris Sweiss, Barry Korengold, Bill Mounsey, and Bill Minikel.  Timothy Ajaegbu was absent.

"Is There Money To Be Made As A Taxi Driver?", A Reader Asks. By John Han

Don't you wish?  Too bad, this one's just Photoshop.  Photo by
John Han.

To the reader - Well, not really.  But then again, it all depends on what you mean by "money to be made".  It's relative.  

That's what a reader wants to know in the "Ask A Cab Driver" section of this website, the reader's comment dated April 22, 2011.   The question is, "Is there money to be made as a taxi driver?"

My answer - If you mean a six figure income, the answer typically is no.  But can a taxi driver earn as much as $65,000 a year  in gross income even without a medallion?  Sure.  Of course.  But it isn't considered the norm.  

A night driver once told me he earns about $65,000 a year, and that's without a medallion.  And I believe him.  Why not?  But he said he drives Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights on an assigned cab.  That's considered one of the best shifts because the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights are the busiest nights.   And he has an assigned cab so he drives the same cab every night, and sometimes that can help make driving cab easier.  But most non-medallion taxi drivers would say that they're not making that much.

Credit Card Fees, Cab Companies, And The SFMTA's Waiver. Is the City giving in to big advertisers? By John Han.

De Soto Cab, Verifone Taxi Tv.  Photo By John Han. 

Part 1 of 2:

At the April 5th, 2011 MTA Board meeting, Board Director Malcolm Heinicke said that he had, "more questions than answers", after hearing many of the drivers protest credit fees and other issues.  Director Heinicke may not be aware that most likely, his is not an isolated sentiment.  

At that SF Municipal Transportation Agency Board meeting (SFMTA), 50-60 or so San Francisco taxi drivers led by driver Tariq Mehmood protested the fees and electronic waybills.  Regardless of varied opinions over Mr. Mehmood and those drivers' action, their action resulted in MTA Board president Nathaniel Ford moving to schedule town hall meetings to further discuss the matters in a public setting.  No dates have been announced yet for those meetings.  Even despite public meetings though, the 5% charge backs are expected to stand, regardless of outcome of any public forum discussions.

Meanwhile, a May 17th MTA Board meeting is scheduled to discuss a taxi meter rate increase.

Even in leu of a possible meter increase, many drivers remain frustrated… and some even furious.  

Why?

What Cab Companies In San Francisco Are Saying About "Taxi TVs". Part 2 of a 2 Part Segment. By John Han.

De Soto Cab, Verifone Taxi TV.  Photo by John Han.

Part 2 of 2, continued from, “Credit Card Fees, Cab Companies, And The SFMTA’s Waiver” (photos by John Han)

The following are excerpts from comments made by three representatives from three of San Francisco's well known cab companies, regarding Taxi Tvs, and 5% credit card fees.  

Mark Gruberg, United Taxi Workers and Co-Founder of Green Cab.  (April 22, 2011)

(Green Cab is not participating in the SFMTA's offer for a waiver at this time.  It is not installing the rear seat Tvs, because it says it has no intention, to date, to pass its credit card fees onto its drivers.)  

"I think the rear seat terminals are being put in by a profit making company that's seeking to make money off of ad revenues."

"I, first of all, don't think they're [SFMTA Taxi Services] being honest and straightforward about the financing.  There are two different streams of revenue.  One is the ad revenue and the other is the processing fees [from the drivers], and somebody's making money off both."

"San Francisco Taxi Driver Robbed Again April 22, 2011." By Dean Clark.

Photo by John Han.

Once again a San Francisco Taxi Driver robbed on April 22 nd around 3:00 a.m. by another entitled person who felt like he did not have to pay for his fare. The fare totaled 16.15 not to mention the time spent trying to get the police to come to the scene, which never occurred because there were higher priority calls.

Here is what happened.  The passenger called around 3:00 a.m. to National Cab Company requesting a cab at 190 Bradford (Courtland and Bradford) in San Francisco Potrero Hill neighborhood. I got to the call and a man came out in his 30's looked kind of shady and said he wanted to go to 3rd and Folsom. When we got to 3rd and Folsom the man did not have enough money to pay the fare, so I told him I accept credit cards. 

MTA To Hold A Meeting On Meter Rate Increase In May.

Photo by John Han.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which governs the City's taxi operations, will hold a meeting to discuss meter rate increases, according to the SF Examiner.

Reporter Will Reisman of the Examiner says the meeting will be on May 17, and that there are currently no details of how much the increase would be.

At the last Taxi Advisory Council meeting held April 11, 2011, the council voted unanimously to urge the MTA to hold a public meeting in which to discuss meter rate increases.

Taxi Driver Vs. The DPT, Round 3, Ticket Dismissed! After Long Wait, Court Favors Driver. By John Han.

Photo by John Han.

This is the third, and for now, the final round of the Taxi Driver Vs. the DPT.  The Superior Court recognized the hardship and unfair conditions of the taxi worker and dismissed my ticket, first issued in late 2010.  Here's how it went down…

I had a court date scheduled at the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St. last Friday morning, April 15^th.  I brought an arsenal of paperwork because I thought that I would have to make a case before the traffic court the same way I had tried, but failed, with the hearing officer at the MTA.  I brought a copy of …

1)      The ticket.

2)      My original letter requesting the SFMTA for administrative review, and then for in person meeting with an MTA hearing officer.

From The Mayor's Office, Ed Lee Nominates Joel Ramos to the SFMTA Board of Directors

Joel Ramos.  Photo by Marta Lindsey

(From the Office of the Mayor)  Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the nomination of Joel Ramos to the Board of Supervisors to serve on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors. Under the Charter, the Board of Supervisors has the authority to review and confirm the Mayor’s nominees to the SFMTA Board.

“As a regular transit rider and a daily bicyclist, Joel Ramos will bring valuable experience to the SFMTA Board as he is passionate about all modes of transportation, is a team builder that works with the community, and is focused on a transit-oriented City,” said Mayor Lee. “His past work has helped to maximize community involvement in transportation planning, and his service on the SFMTA Board will have lasting impacts on our City’s transit system to ensure it is safe, reliable and affordable for all users.”