City Council adopts taxi fare increase after brief debate

The Los Angeles City Council voted to adopt an ordinance raising taxicab rates, approving item 16 on second reading by a 12–2 vote.

Council member Savornich moved the ordinance on second reading; a separate procedural motion to end debate (the previous question) was filed and carried before the final roll call. The council did not record full roll-call names for the two dissenting votes in the transcript.

The measure drew a short debate on the council floor about whether the increase was justified. Council member Holden argued the rise would make Los Angeles among the highest-priced cities for taxi fares and called the increase “excessive,” noting that prior adjustments in the 1980s had been prompted by short-lived spikes in fuel prices. “The prices that were just up for a short period of time does not warrant nor do they justify spending this kind of money on an increase,” Holden said on the floor. The council nonetheless approved the ordinance.

The council did not specify in the public record the precise new meter amounts or which two members voted against the ordinance; the final tally was read as "12 ayes, 2 noes." The transcript shows Council member Savornich sponsored the item and that a procedural motion to end debate was moved by another member before the final vote.

Background: Council debate referenced historical taxi rate adjustments and comparison with other U.S. cities; those comparisons were made on the floor but the council did not add statutory findings beyond the ordinance vote. The ordinance takes effect according to the schedule printed in the ordinance itself (not specified in the public transcript).

The council approved the ordinance during its regular meeting after a series of other consent and calendar votes.