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UPDATE:
Ballot Measure Threatens Proposition K

Proposition A, Aimed at Muni Reform,
Contains Taxi Provision in Fine Print

An amendment to the City Charter on the November ballot could result in the elimination of our governing taxi law, Proposition K of 1978.

Under the current Charter, the Board of Supervisors can abolish the Taxi Commission and transfer its authority to the MTA. If that were to occur, Proposition K would still govern medallion issuance, and could only be changed by the voters.
But the broad language of Proposition A’s taxi provision seems intended to allow the Agency to eliminate Prop K by administrative rule. (See the text of the new taxi language in the box on the upper right.)

Here are some potential consequences:

· Taxi medallions that now must be issued to cab drivers could go to cab companies instead.

· Non-transferable medallions, which are issued for the price of an application fee, could again be bought and sold, as in New York, where they go for half a million dollars each.

If the MTA takes over taxi regulation under Proposition A, that agency, rather than the Board of Supervisors, would set taxi gates and meter rates. To stop a gate or meter increase, the Board of Supervisors would have to reject the entire MUNI budget by a super-majority of seven votes. That’s highly improbable. Gate and meter increases will be far more likely under Proposition A.

The taxi provisions were inserted in Proposition A behind the backs of cab drivers and the Taxi Commission itself. There was no notification or opportunity for public discussion or hearings on this obscure provision in a 39-page document. United Taxicab Workers only learned of the taxi provision after the measure had been placed on the ballot.

UTW is fighting Proposition A. Drivers who would like to help in the campaign should call our office at 864-8294.

The following is UTW's official ballot argument:

TAXI PROVISION POISONS PROP A

One paragraph in this thick document, Proposition A, contains Yellow Cab's dream come true. But it's a nightmare for cab drivers, passengers, and voters. A single paragraph could repeal Prop K and destroy a power that voters have held for almost thirty years: Voters control our city’s taxi permits. Cab companies and medallion holders have tried eight times to repeal or undermine Prop K. Voters have rejected these attempts, resoundingly. But under Proposition A, if the Board of Supervisors transfers taxi regulation from the Taxi Commission to the MTA, the Agency could repeal Prop K by an administrative rule. Here are some potential consequences:

· Taxi permits (medallions) that now must be issued to cab drivers could go to cab companies instead.

· Non-transferable medallions, which are issued for the price of an application fee, could again be bought and sold, as in New York, where they fetch half a million dollars each.

· Also, WATCH YOUR POCKETS! The MTA itself, and not our elected officials, could set meter rates, under a mandate to "develop new sources of funding for the Agency's operations." To stop a fare increase, the Board of Supervisors would have to reject the entire MUNI budget by a super-majority of seven votes! Fat chance. Expect a taxi fare increase if Prop A passes.

The taxi provision was inserted in Proposition A behind the backs of cab drivers and the Taxi Commission itself. No outreach, no consultation, not a word to the thousands who would be most affected by the potentially devastating changes it could bring about. As long-time supporters of transit-first and clean-air policies, we've been betrayed. Please send this back to the drawing board. Vote NO on A.

United Taxicab Workers

In the Press:

SF cabbies criticize transit measure
Examiner.com - USA 08.27.2007
SAN FRANCISCO - A November ballot measure that could give the city's transportation agency authority to regulate the taxicab industry has riled ...
click here to read this article