Gillespie Elected Commission President Yellow Cab driver Paul Gillespie, an original member of the Taxi Commission, was elected its president at the commission's July 25 meeting. The post became vacant after Mayor Gavin Newsom replaced the former president, cab company representative Martin Smith, with Richard Benjamin of Luxor Cab. Gillespie, the commission's driver representative and a past vice-president, has a liberal arts degree from San Francisco State with a concentration in environmental studies. He served on the Mayor's Taxi Task Force in 1997-1998. “It's a tremendous vote of confidence to be elected president, and I hope to use this opportunity to strengthen and enhance our unique system of permitting, build on our success in hybrid taxis, paratransit and driver safety, and tackle difficult issues like driver health care and disability for permit holder and non-permit holder alike,” Gillespie said.

Benjamin, Oneto, Heinicke Gain Commission Appointments Mayor Gavin Newsom has made three appointments to the Taxi Commission. Richard Benjamin is a former police officer and currently works in risk management and accident investigation at Luxor Cab. He was appointed as cab company representative, replacing Martin Smith. Tom Oneto is a third-generation San Franciscan and the former business representative for Teamsters Local 490. He was appointed to replace Mary McGuire as labor representative. Malcom Heinicke is an attorney whose focus is labor and employment litigation. He was chair of the Human Rights Commission before joining the Taxi Commission as its neighborhood representative, filling the seat left vacant by the death of former Commission President Arthur Jackson. The mayor also reappointed two sitting commissioners, cab driver representative Paul Gillespie and general public representative Min Paek. Both Gillespie and Paek voted to retain Executive Director Heidi Machen at the June 27 meeting that resulted in her dismissal

U.C. Study Recommends Permit Transferability
Report Cites Permit Profits As ‘Core Inequity’ in System
An academic study of the taxi industry recommends making taxi permits transferable — but admits that it would be hard to convince voters to pass such a measure. The study was performed by graduate students at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, at the request of Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Sean Elsbernd.
The students’ report, entitled “The San Francisco Taxicab Industry: An Equity Analysis,” cited “windfall profits” permit holders receive from cab companies for leasing their medallions as a “core inequity” that “results in a wide disparity in the quality of life of medallion holders versus non-medallion holders.”
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Board Approves Managers' Modification The Board of Supervisors has approved a proposed ordinance modifying the Proposition K driving requirement for cab company “key personnel”. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd sponsored the legislation, which Mayor Gavin Newsom signed on June 14. Under the ordinance, company “key personnel” who are employed at least 1,500 hours a year could comply with the requirement by driving a taxi 120 hours a year. Companies can designate eligible employees according to a formula based on company size. UTW opposed a much more lenient version of the proposal as recommended by the Taxi Commission last year, but reached a compromise with cab companies and permit holders on the final legislation. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2007.

Eight Veterans Permits Returned Eight of 25 corporate taxicab permits held by Veterans Cab were surrendered July 25 for reissuance to taxicab permit applicants under a settlement agreement between the company and the Taxi Commission. A ninth permit was also due to be returned. Veterans originally agreed to surrender the eight medallions in January, but United Taxicab Workers appealed the settlement to the Board of Appeals. The board upheld the agreement by a 3-2 vote. Commission staff subsequently agreed to allow Veterans to keep the medallions until July. The ninth medallion was to be surrendered under a formula linking return of the remaining permits to the death of Veterans shareholders. One of seven remaining shareholders recently passed away.

Cab Companies Overcharging
Drivers on Gates
San Francisco cab companies are violating the city's gate cap, which limits the amount companies can charge drivers for leasing taxis by the shift.
According to a recent report prepared by the Board of Supervisors' legislative analyst, companies can charge no more than $85 a shift on average. But all major companies, and some smaller ones, are charging more than the legal limit.
The gate cap goes back to 1999. At that time, it was set at $83.50 a shift. The cap was the culmination of a long battle, led by United Taxicab Workers, to curb runaway gates.
The gate remained at $83.50 until January 2003, when it was increased to $91.50, including a $1.50 charge destined for the paratransit program. But the city ordinance increasing the gate contained several conditions, one of which was the enactment of a health care plan for cab drivers by Jan. 1, 2004.
Under the ordinance, in the absence of a health care plan the gate was to drop back to $85, unless the City Controller certified in writing by Oct. 1, 2003 that such a plan was not feasible. The Controller's report of October 2003 concluded that “providing benefits to drivers is possible,” and discussed options for doing so.
The Board of Supervisors extended the deadline for the plan's enactment until September 2004. At that time, gates should have come down, but at most companies they did not.
Of the major companies, only DeSoto was charging the lower gate, and that was because...
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At the Taxi Commission
The Taxi Commission meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m., in room 400 of City Hall. Special meetings may be scheduled as needed. The following is a summary of significant commission proceedings at recent meetings:
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UTW Chair Fired From National Cab

By Thomas George-Williams National/Veterans Cab fired me because I am politically active for the dignity of San Francisco's taxicab drivers. They used an outrageous newly made-up rule: "Drivers who drive brake pads down to metal have to pay $100 to replace the brake rotor." I drove National Cab #561 for several months with the brake lights on... click here to read this article

National Cab # 980, assigned to UTW Chair Thomas George-Williams, broke down when the right front wheel gave out.

Problems at SFO?
Taxi drivers who observe problems or have disputes with dispatchers inside the garage or at the terminal stands at San Francisco International Airport should contact the on-duty shift manager at one of the following numbers:
(650) 821-2700 or (650) 821-2704
Problems or complaints can also be addressed to Landside Operations: (650) 821-6528

Post And Discuss Ideas Here! San Francisco Needs New Ideas !!!

Report Illegal Taxis
If you witness limousines acting as taxis or out-of-town or unlicensed cabs picking up in San Francisco, please report the following to the Taxi Detail: 1) date and time; 2) location; 3) license plate; 4) if a limo, the TCP number; 4) if an out-of-town cab, the company and cab number; 5) any phone number on the vehicle. The number to call 24 hours a day is 553-1447.

UNITED TO WIN is published quarterly by United Taxicab Workers. 
We welcome the submission of letters, photos and articles to be considered for publication.
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