Current Interest
An Overview of the San Francisco Taxi Industry and Proposition K prepared November 2007 by Heidi Machen and Jordanna Thigpen for the Taxi Commission's working group on Charter Reform. (2MB pdf)
San Francisco's Taxi Dispatch Service: Improving Reliability and Response from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, May 2007 report suggesting a surcharge on dispatch orders. (2.7 megabyte PDF)
Establishing a San Francisco Taxi Driver Health Care Coverage Program: Administration, Cost, and Funding Options. March 2006 report from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, 110 pages (726KB) complete with detailed actuarial analysis. An existing city-sponsored San Francisco Health Plan is proposed as the administrator. Under one scenario, drivers would pay $80 a month plus modest co-pays for services. The report examines funding options for the rest of the estimated $9-16 million annual cost.
Driving Poor: Taxi Drivers and the Regulation of the Taxi Industry in Los Angeles, September 2006 study by Professors Gary Blasi and Jacqueline Leavitt of UCLA. (460kb PDF)
Controller's reports
- Taxicab Industry Report - August 2006, a review of the taxicab industry with recommendations on taxicab rates of fare and gate fees. (302 KB)
- 2005 Taxi Commission Survey Report - February 8, 2006, summary report of the results of the Taxi Commission Survey conducted by the Controller's Office in October/November 2005. (140 KB)
- Taxicab Industry Report with Addendum - December 2005, a review of the taxicab industry with recommendations on taxicab rates of fare and gate fees. (140 KB)
- Taxi Driver Survey Summary Findings - April 2004, descriptive statistics of San Francisco's taxi driver population that can be used by policymakers and other interested parties. (6.5 MB)
- San Francisco Taxi Drivers Health Benefits Report - October 2003. This report was prepared in response to Ordinance Number 228-02, which requires the Controller to submit a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors by October 1, 2003 for enactment of a program that would make health insurance or health benefits available to all taxi drivers. (816 KB)
-Taxicab Industry Long-Term Lease Report - October 2003, Controller's report to the Board of Supervisors regarding long-term lease fee caps. (1.8 MB)
Additional documents related to the 2007 health care proposals
Three documents were submitted to the Taxi Commission's Health Care Committee at its December 19 meeting:
a memorandum from Brian Browne on behalf of SFTA (600 KB)
a financing proposal from UTW (969 KB)
a memorandum on financing from Ken Jacobs, a non-votng member of the committee (7 KB)
The Medallion Holders Association submitted its Free Healthcare Plan for All Drivers in March 2007. (22 KB pdf format)
The San Francisco Taxi Industry Proposal on Health Care was submitted by Brian Browne in March 2007. (74 KB pdf format)
Taxi-related ballot measures, 1978 - 2003
Taxi regulation in San Francisco was heavily influenced by a corporate meltdown in 1976 that led to a year of scarce taxi service and a stinky permit-trading deal in City Hall. See Taxis and SF Labor History for a brief summary of the crisis. In the wake of the crisis, a pair of competing taxi reform measures appeared on the ballot in 1978. Proposition K won with 51% of the vote. "Prop K" has shaped every aspect of the taxi business since that time.
The voters have been asked to revisit the issue numerous times since 1978, but have shown a singular disinclination to delve into the fine points of taxi regulation. With the exception of Proposition D in 1998, each of the propositions lost at the polls.
All the documents in this section are extracts from the ballot handbooks mailed to voters prior to the elections. They are in PDF format with file size under 1MB except as noted.
Proposition J of June 1978 competed with Prop K but lost. Proposition K of June 1978 won with 51% of the vote. These documents include the official ballot statements and the published arguments pro-and-con. See also the complete legal text of Propositions J and K.
Proposition M of November 1979 sought to restore transferability of permits. This document includes the official ballot statement and the published arguments pro-and-con. See also the complete legal text of the proposition.
Proposition P of November 1981 sought to repeal Prop K and transfer regulation to the Board of Supervisors. This document includes the official ballot statement and the published arguments pro-and-con. See also the complete legal text of the proposition.
Proposition P of November 1988 sought to repeal Prop K, but would have retained key elements such as non-transferability of permits. This document includes the official ballot statement and the complete legal text. See also the paid arguments pro-and-con that were published along with the proposition.
Proposition Y of November 1993 sought, among other things, to increase the number of permits and add new types of permits. This document contains the ballot statement, the arguments pro-and-con, and the complete legal text.
Proposition I of November 1995 was a bid by United Taxicab Workers to place a limit on cab rental fees (gate control) and to establish a centralized dispatch system. This document contains the ballot statement and the arguments pro-and-con. See also the complete legal text of the measure.
Proposition J of November 1996 would have allowed the sale of permits, established gate control and limited permits to drivers with at least five years experience. It would also have allowed for a type of part-time permit. This document includes the ballot statement, the arguments pro-and-con, and the complete legal text. (1.25MB)
Proposition D of November 1998 established the Taxi Commission. It was the only taxi-related ballot measure to pass after Prop K in 1978. This document includes the ballot statement, the arguments pro-and-con, and the complete legal text.
Proposition M of November 2000 would have authorized the issuance of various kinds of special purpose taxi permits, and allow them to be issued to more than a single individual. Prop M would also have set 800 hours as an annual driving or operating requirement. This document includes the ballot statement, the arguments pro-and-con, and the complete legal text. (1.2MB)
Proposition N of November 2003 was a bid by PDA (now known as the Medallion Holders Association) to prevent revocation of permits due to disability. This document includes the ballot statement, the arguments pro-and-con, and the complete legal text. (3.9MB)
Association documents
San Francisco Taxi Permitholders and Drivers Association vs. City and County of San Francisco, July 2002 Appellate Court decision
Bylaws of the Medallion Holders Association
October 2006 letter to hotels regarding limos, jointly sent by the Medallion Holders Association, the SF Taxicab Association and United Taxicab Workers
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