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Dozens of San Francisco taxi drivers urge supervisors to block MTA medallion leasing, demand protections
Summary
Scores of taxi drivers, medallion applicants and advocates used public comment to press the Board of Supervisors to block the SFMTA from leasing or otherwise diverting medallions to companies, and to ensure taxi revenues are reinvested in the taxi industry.
A long series of public commenters at Tuesday’s San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting pressed elected officials to intervene in a brewing dispute over the Municipal Transportation Agency’s handling of taxicab medallions and revenues.
Speakers — many identified as long-time drivers, medallion applicants and small medallion-holding operators — urged the board to prevent the MTA from leasing or selling medallions to corporate entities rather than issuing them to qualified individual drivers on the waiting list. Commenters said many drivers lack health benefits, retirement and paid leave and that medallions represent the principal path to small-owner economic security.
Multiple speakers described their place on municipal medallion waiting lists, said they could not afford the upfront medallion price and argued the MTA’s plans to lease some medallions to companies or to use medallion revenue to cover municipal transit costs would deprive drivers of opportunity. Speakers called for a ballot measure to ensure medallions go to drivers and that taxi revenue be used for taxi-industry purposes.
Several drivers and advocates described the MTA as a conflicted regulator and operator, saying the agency both regulates the industry and is seeking to profit from medallion lease revenue. United Taxicab Workers and driver associations asked the supervisors to consider removing taxi regulation from the MTA and to preserve medallions for drivers.
Supervisors did not take a vote on the taxi proposals during the meeting; the comments were part of the public-comment period. Several supervisors later acknowledged the depth of concern and referenced the need for follow-up conversations. Commenters said they plan to pursue a ballot measure and further outreach to the board.
The testimony highlighted long-standing tensions between drivers, many of whom are immigrants, and city agencies over compensation, benefits and the governance of the municipal-for-hire industry. Drivers and advocates urged supervisors to act quickly to protect drivers’ economic interests while the MTA proceeds with medallion policy decisions.
