Rules Committee forwards three Taxi Commission appointment motions without recommendation

The San Francisco Rules Committee reported three motions regarding the mayor's appointment of Art Tom to the Taxi Commission to the full Board without recommendation after hearing from the nominee and supporters.

The clerk read three separate motions on the calendar: one to approve the mayor's appointment of Art Tom to the Taxi Commission for a term ending 06/28/2012; one to reject the appointment; and one to take no position. Art Tom introduced himself as a neighborhood activist and community organizer who founded a neighborhood watch and helped revitalize the West Sunset playground group "Friends of West Sunset Playground." He said he looks forward to serving on the Taxi Commission and intends to be fair and impartial when considering issues that come before the commission.

Committee members questioned Tom about his personal use of taxis, his involvement with transportation issues and the Association of Realtors government relations committee, and whether his professional work would affect his role. Tom said he uses taxis periodically, that he participates in community and association meetings, and that his primary focus is neighborhood activism rather than his job in real estate.

Katie Tang, representing Supervisor Carmen Chu's office, spoke in support of Tom, saying the district would benefit from West Side representation on the commission and noting patchy taxi service in the Sunset District.

A supervisor who said he had met Tom in contexts unrelated to his real-estate work recommended moving all three appointment items forward to the full Board without recommendation. The committee agreed and will present the three motions to the Board for final action.

Next steps: the full Board will consider the three motions on the mayoral appointment; the committee did not record a formal recommendation or a roll-call vote on approval or rejection in this meeting.