San Francisco cab drivers will have several chances this week and next to voice their concerns to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency before a May 17 board meeting to determine taxi regulation.
Today at 12:30 p.m., the SFMTA has scheduled the first of six taxi town hall meetings at its headquarters at 1 South Van Ness Ave. The second meeting is at 5:30 p.m. today.
The third and fourth meetings will take place at the same time and location on Wednesday.
Topics discussed will include credit card payments and transaction fees, passenger information monitors, and a proposed fare increase, SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said.
Two final town hall meetings on Monday at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. will summarize input from the previous meetings, and a staff recommendation will be presented on the issues, Rose said.
“The discussions today and tomorrow will help form a recommendation for the board,” Rose said. “We will try our best to limit the topics to the ones identified.”
The meetings will be facilitated by SFMTA staff and time will be allotted for public comment, Rose said.
National Cab Co. driver Dean Clark plans to attend today’s 12:30 p.m. meeting to fight for increased meter rates as gasoline and taxi rental prices go up.
“People don’t realize we are being beaten to death with expenses we have no control over,” Clark said.
Clark said taxi drivers are considering staging another protest outside City Hall on May 17 prior to the SFMTA board meeting.
Those who are unable to attend the town hall meetings can send comments by email to sftaxi@sfmta.com until Friday.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
