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Board of Appeals upholds revocation of taxi medallion and a‑card for Robert M. Friedman
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted 4-0 to uphold the Taxi Commission’s revocation of Robert M. Friedman’s a‑card (O41990) and medallion (865), after weighing multiple DUI convictions, a pending ADA accommodation application and public testimony arguing both public‑safety and rehabilitation concerns.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on July 21 upheld the Taxi Commission’s revocation of both the a‑card (O41990) and medallion No. 865 held by Robert M. Friedman, voting 4‑0 to sustain the Commission’s disciplinary action.
In a three‑minute status presentation, Taxi Commission counsel Ms. Thigpen told the board that Mr. Friedman’s California driver’s license has been revoked and that suspension would be inappropriate because the permit structure requires working drivers. "It is not a decision the commission makes lightly," Thigpen said, arguing revocation is warranted given the record the hearing officer found and the Commission’s review of court documents.
Defense counsel Mr. Rottwein urged the board to impose conditions and monitoring rather than a permanent revocation, noting Mr. Friedman has been "clean for three years" and offering frequent testing and supervision. Rottwein also said a pending ADA application before the Taxi Commission and the relevance of the Sloan decision make the case complex and meriting a less extreme penalty.
Members of the public and industry figures delivered mixed testimony. Sherry Howe, a registered addiction specialist, said Friedman’s recovery and decades of driving without customer complaints argued for compassion; other speakers, including medallion holders and company representatives, emphasized public‑safety and fairness to drivers on the waiting list who meet driving requirements. Carl McMurdo, of the Taxicab Medallion Holders Association, described ongoing litigation and said the issue of whether medallions must be held by working drivers remains contested in court.
Board members asked about the accuracy and number of DUI convictions cited in the record and whether false statements on annual "10‑95" forms and the concealment of convictions provided independent grounds for revocation under the municipal police code. The Taxi Commission’s presentation noted a hearing officer’s finding of three DUIs, with the Commission later identifying a fourth conviction in the case record.
After deliberation, President Garcia moved to uphold the Taxi Commission’s action. Commissioners Goh, Peterson and Mandelmann joined Garcia in voting Aye. The board’s order sustains the Commission’s revocation of Mr. Friedman’s a‑card and medallion; the board recorded the vote as 4‑0.
The record in the case includes the Taxi Commission’s briefs, the hearing officer’s findings and public submissions. The board noted that Mr. Friedman or his counsel may pursue any additional administrative or judicial remedies available under law.
