As you watch the Public Services Committee meeting yesterday, you would think that councilor Erpenbach would want to do everything in the city’s power to stick it to small cab companies (well they are all small in SF, even the biggest one is small) Her suggestion of 24/7 operation did get voted down, As Karsky said to her, “Our public transit doesn’t run 24/7 so how can we require private businesses to do it?†She did however push for more regulations, permanent markings, inspections and higher license fees, of course in the interest of public safety, that is. Remember, these are private businesses being subjected to more regulations then most, these are also tax generators (one cab company owner figures he collects around $2,300 a month in sales taxes for the city.) While I do agree with SOME of the Committee’s proposals, I find it a bit odd that she really wants to hammer it to cab companies.
Why?!
Let’s go back to the SF City council informational meeting a couple weeks back, during open discussion (towards end of meeting). Councilor Jamison suggested more transparency in the TIF application process and suggested it needed to be discussed during a work session or committee meeting. Erpenbach, didn’t feel like they needed to ‘dig’ into this matter anymore, and went into a gentle tirade about how her and her colleagues really didn’t need to revisit the topic. She got trumped of course, and Karsky scheduled it for a committee meeting.
What makes this interesting is Erpenbach’s hypocrisy on the issue. While she is okay with large private developers who are receiving public assistance keep their investors a secret, she feels we need to stick it to the small private business owner and regulate them to death, as they collect tax revenue for the city while we refund property taxes back to gigantic developers.
Of course, this hypocrisy stems from Michelle’s campaign donor list, that has about every big wheel developer in SF on it, but seems to have no names of cab company owners on it.
DONORS: erp-finance
So I guess it is safe to say, if you want Michelle to do your bidding, you best get your checkbook out, otherwise, you are screwed.
No doubt about it. Erp needs to go. If she represented a district south of 41st street or outside the 29-229 corridor…then yeah, maybe she would truly represent those who live there. But she certainly does not represent those in the central district.
After the city started messing with taxi service a few years ago, service has gone down and prices have doubled. Sign on no more than 4 cab companies, don’t tax them to death, and yes 24 hours. Fewer companies can keep a cab on call. If bus service isn’t running, a taxi is the only way around town. Urpbucket can get around on her broom but we need a reliable & affordable taxi service.
Since I voluntarily quit riding Paratransit a year ago, because I didn’t feel well enough to go through their upgraded recertification process and my adult mentally handicapped daughter was bounced off the service in May because in Paratransits ultimate intelligence they decided she isn’t disabled enough. We have no other means of transportation than to use cabs. We mainly use Yellow Cab, and I don’t have any complaints about them. We have used First Choice Taxi a few times, but it seems like whenever I have called them all they have out is SUVs and I know they have a couple cars. Due to being short and having some mobility problems it is really hard for me to get into anything other than a car. When they tell me all they have out is an SUV I tell them I will call another company. For a round trip to my doctor the cost is between $20.00-$30.00. When I rode Paratransit I used the lift even though I am ambulatory. It is just really hard for me to do steps of any type. Yellow Cab did have one driver that when I would call I told them not to send him because he would complain about not being tipped enough. Eventually enough people were complaining about him that he no longer works there.
Since I voluntarily quit riding Paratransit a year ago, because I didn’t feel well enough to go through their upgraded recertification process and my adult mentally handicapped daughter was bounced off the service in May because in Paratransits ultimate intelligence they decided she isn’t disabled enough.
Very sad commentary Joan. Unfortunately your last name is not lloyd, dunham, or sureslickster. I am somewhat familiar with the new standards of para transit. Seems if a person can put their left foot in front of their right foot and vice versa for twenty feet then you no longer qualify. The study group in place to “study” the paratransit burden is a joke. The only member of that “team” that has any concept of what’s going on is Kenny Anderson, but he’ll be drowned out by the elitist class. Para WILL see its services even further diminished in terms of service area by about 30% of its current load. WHY? So we can further subsidize erpenbachs base.
Sorry Joan. Our city has good citizens but city leaders are monsters. Thanks for your story. I’ll think of you when I go to my polling place. I recently heard a story about a disabled nurse. She had to transfer twice on the bus to buy groceries and more transfers to get to her doctor. If she planned both for one day she could start at 8 am & be home by 6pm. Three separate trips with a taxi was $90 and a taxi with wait times was $130+. Urpbucket should try this schedule. Take public or taxi transit to city council meetings and see if you get there. If you don’t, you’ll not be missed.
Transit in Sioux Falls would improve more quickly if only we required everyone who worked at Wild Sage Grille or Callaway’s or the Ho to use it to get to work. There would be express buses flying in every which direction to make sure that the south siders could eat.
HG, right!?
“Transit in Sioux Falls would improve more quickly IF …”
IFcity councilors had to use it…just once…put yourself in their position. erp, entertainman, karsky, aggie, rolfing…all need to break a leg or two for just a year or two and use para. Then talk to Kenny Anderson and see if you can’t do the right thing besides cashing in your Lloyd campaign checks.
This is what really concerns me when the mayor talks about quality of life improvements, whose quality of life is he talking about? It sure isn’t the seniors who aren’t in real good condition, or the disabled. I’m wondering who is supposed to be riding on paratransit? I saw a young man in a power chair interviewed on KSFY several weeks ago and he stated something to the effect that if some of the route changes or something that are being talked about he would have to quit his job and wouldn’t have a way to attend sporting events and concerts. My daughter that was kicked of para was trained for two days to ride the fixed route bus to and from work. After two days the lady training her it was determined that because when she was told to pull the chain for a stop she did it, that it meant she was able to ride the fixed route buses. My daughter says she is scared to ride the fixed route buses and they don’t have seat belts, like paratransit does. That being said her case managers at Achieve and her doctor filled out paper work for paratransit saying that because of the fact that she is overly friendly and extremely talkative that could make her vulnerable to be ing exploited by other passengers on the bus or at the bus exchanges. She also wants to please everybody, so who knows what she could be convinced to do. Some of the places that she has to go, I make sure to schedule those items for day and time that she has to spend an hour a week with her case manager. She had worked at Wendy’s on 41st and Louise for about 10 years when she had to quit the job because of not being able to ride paratransit anymore. Well enough about my complaints.
Joan, you mean disabled people have jobs? Errands to run? Doctor’s appointments to go to? Friends and Family to visit? You mean, they live normal lives? Get out of here! I thought we just locked them up and filled them full of pills while they gamble with cigarettes over a card game all day and play tricks on nurse Ratchett. Snark.
DL, apparently that is what the mayor would like to do. lol
Joan & DL, this is what we are talking about. There is a major disconnect between the them and the rest of us. The 1% or specials don’t understand what we do for a living or how we survive. Their ‘quality’ of life is something the rest of just can’t relate to. GFY the 1% of Sanford Falls. Thanks Joan and DL for reminding us why you are responding to this crap.
BTW, why does Erp have $9,000 from developers and specials for her campaign when she has nothing to campaign on? What has she done in the four year of office except returned favors for specials?