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Working Groups Tackle Industry Issues

The Taxi Commission has set up several working groups to examine industry issues and recommend changes in city ordinances and commission rules. Here’s a progress report:

The Clean Taxi Working Group recently completed its meetings, proposing standards for vehicle emissions and a gate increase to offset the added costs of low- emissions vehicles. The commission is currently discussing those recommendations.

A second group is discussing taxi rules and regulations. Vice-President Patricia Breslin is chairing the meetings, with President Paul Gillespie and Comm. Tom Oneto participating. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in City Hall, room 421.

A third group will be discussing changes to Proposition K of 1978. The group consists of 12 voting members, six from the industry and six from the public, and non-voting members from city departments. It has been titled the “Charter Reform Working Group,” a misnomer, as Prop K is not in the Charter.
Voting members include commissioners Malcolm Heinicke and Bruce Oka. President Gillespie is a non-voting member.
Representing the industry are United Taxicab Workers Chair Thomas-George Williams, Big Dog City driver Tone Lee, Medallion Holders Association Treasurer Charles Rathbone, Yellow Cab medallion holder Laurie Graham, Metro Cab President Rich Hybels and Luxor Cab President John Lazar.
Public members are industry consultant Hansu Kim, political consultant Rich Schlackman, Adam Millard-Ball of SPUR and advertising director Autumn O’Keefe of San Francisco magazine.
The group’s first meeting will take place Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. in City Hall, room 201.

In addition to the commission groups, an industry advisory committee is holding meetings to discuss a plan to replace taxi scrip with debit card readers in every cab by next summer. Consultant Hansu Kim is coordinating the project for Muni. The group’s next meeting will take place in mid-November.

The meetings of all groups are open to the public. For information, call the Taxi Commission, 503-2180, or go to its website, www.sfgov.org/taxicommission.