On our waiting list. So, whats going to happen is theyll all have the opportunity to purchase a half price medallion at 102,000 each. But when that occurs, those ramp medallions will come back to the city. And what we want to do is allow those grant medallions to keep operating to service our wheelchair clientele. So, what were proposing is and were looking at this for along the future, is the opportunity to allow the mta to lease these grant medallions directly to the companies to ensure that that service will continue and to ensure that our wheelchair customers maintain priority as part of our ramp program. [speaker not understood]. Thank you very much, mr. [speaker not understood]. Members of the public care to address the board on this matter . Yes, mr. Chairman. Well start with charles rathbone, kerry lam, and [speaker not understood]. I think mr. Oka is going to speak in this one, right . We dont have a speaker card from him. [laughter] he doesnt need one. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Charles rathbone with electric cab. I put on the overhead a subject for you to see. Its an article from the chicago dispatcher magazine. And it shows one of their longtime ramp taxi drivers who received many compliments from his customers being awarded a ramp taxi medallion. And i think you can see from the picture the pride and the joy in just how much that means to their whole family. Im really concerned that as you move to your new ramp taxi program that the longtime drivers, not the medallion holders, the drivers of the cabs other than the me doll i dont medallion holders will be left out of the deal. I suggest that you reissue those ramp taxi permits as they get turned in by the medallion holders to these longtime drivers. In a manner very similar to what you do with the s permits. This would be issued to drivers on a temporary basis who would then turn around and make their deal with the Cab Companies. Issuing the permits to these experienced and longtime drivers would serve to keep them involved and would reward their many long years of commitment. Lastly, the proposed changes are an opportunity for you to rebrand the ramp taxis. I suggest you start calling them ramp and bike taxis because these large vehicles are bike friendly and can easily hold two bicycles without taking off the wheels. That way you could recognize an expanded role for ramp taxis going forward. Thank you. Thank you, mr. [speaker not understood]. Next speaker. Correspond i lam followed by [speaker not understood] and mark gruberg. Hello. Good afternoon, directors. Ive spoken previously and other meetingsing, i was a ramp taxi driver. I do work at night, so, the majority of my rides are usually not folks in wheelchairs. Theyre people who are out drinking and whatnot. My concern with the ramp program has to do with people using the medallion just to go to the airport and take what doesnt fit in a prius or an escape. Ive had that concern for sometime now. Ive addressed that with sfo people on how to handle that. Whats happening is now that we have the 8,000 series and these other vehicles that are being added and i believe youre probably going to see another spike in hybrid medallions, but you do need incentivized drivers who dont have a medallion down the road for them to Still Service that very important community. Ive given a suggestion previously, and im going to bring it again to you. You need to work with the para Transit Coordinating Council and the broker to subsidize the time and gas that is aped expended by the drivers who actually have a good heart. But its not economically feasible to do so because the medallion the price of the medallion holders are being paid by the Companies Wont be there for ever. Thats going to sunset like Everything Else is sunseting. And i believe if we subsidize those rides 5, 7 a ride, so, theres work being done on the front side and backside that is not being compensated for and with the para transit being limited to 2, some of that work for people who actually have a good heart and see the value in doing that are being disincentivized by taking the medallions away from the drivers. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next speaker. [speaker not understood] mahmoud, [speaker not understood]. Id like to speak at the last. Who is next . Mark gruberg. Mr. Gruberg. Thank you again. Mark gruberg. Id like to echo some of the comments of the previous speakers, particularly mr. Rathbone who is a manager at the company that has the most ramp taxis in the city and has the most to gain from the issuance of ramp taxi medallions to Cab Companies. And yet clearly recognizes the main incentive for a driver to drive the ramp taxi, to continue driving a ramp taxi is the possibility of gaining a ramp taxi medallion. And although this legislation doesnt preclude the issuance of ramp taxi medallions to drivers in the future, its certainly, certainly points away from it. And i would urge you very strongly. Leave this door of opportunity open for drivers. Too many other doors have been closed to them. I also have to say that i oppose further leasing of medallions. I know that its in the agencys financial interest to do this, but i think that the agencys financial interests too often have been trumping the interest of drivers, the interest of companies and the interest of the public. So, id urge you not to do that. And lastly, let me just say on behalf of green cab that if medallions are issued to Cab Companies, these ramp medallionses, i hope theyre not. But if that happens, a reading of this legislation tells me that green cab will be forever precluded from getting any of them because we dont have any ramp medallions right now. Were fairly young company. We havent taken any in, i can explain various reasons for that. But the way this is written, these ramp medallionses can only be issued to companies with an Exemplary Service to the wheelchair community and that would preclude our company, any other company that doesnt have ramp medallions from ever getting one. Thank you, mr. Gruberg. [speaker not understood], mohammed, mary mcguire. Good afternoon, ms. Mason. Good afternoon, commissioners, heidi mason. First i want to applaud the proposal to allow all ramp medallion holders to be able to purchase the regular medallions at half price. I believe that will be a great change and i think that will be appreciated by many people in the industry. Second, i am troubled by the provisions on leasing back to the taxi companies. And if i could maybe turn your attention to page 5 of the staff memo, and this is in the penultimate paragraph that says that staff will choose companies to lease based on demonstrated performance. Well, the price transportation pays, this approach may be putting the cart before the horse. I would urge you to instead put in place some standards for companies so that they companies have a fair opportunity to compete for those lease backs. I think that there was a bit of process that was skipped over here and i urge this commission to ask that question and to reject this proposal either in part or in whole until the standards have been put in place. Thank you. Thank you, ms. Mason. Next speaker. Mohammed, followed by mary mcguire, and bruce oka. Good afternoon. Id like to [speaker not understood]. Id like to draw your attention to [speaker not understood] taxi in 1994 [speaker not understood] temporary with six medallionses. And no one knew its worth trying. Some driver stepped in and partnered with the yellow cab and invested some money and purchased vans and equipment. The incentive was that they will get their chance to get their regular medallion sooner down the road. But that didnt happen. Sometime sfmta took over the taxi industry, thing get better, too. Also a although they continue to serve the community and put some sacrifices. For example, they kept pushing [speaker not understood] event because they [speaker not understood] costs. And they spent more [speaker not understood]. No hybrid or Energy Vehicle for taxi. They prioritized the [speaker not understood] customers, they go across town to pick up customer. They turn down other business, and then they spend more time to load, unload, [speaker not understood] without extra compensation. And then the sfmta put more burden on them by asking them to pick up more wheelchairs, eight wheelchairs a minimum a month without [speaker not understood] the sacrifice they are being put into. I think the problem is because we did not recognize that this driver put a lot of sacrifice because theyre waiting for one day to get their medallion. [speaker not understood], asking us to put push [speaker not understood]. In one hand thank you, yeah. Ill wrap real quick. They gave medallion to driver who didnt put them on the list and then punishing [speaker not understood]. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Mary mcguire followed by bruce oka and then jacob madel. Good afternoon, ms. Mcguire. Good afternoon, mary mcguire, taxi driver. They are leasing the rent medallions to the Cab Companies. Im concerned about how, how this will impact the service. Now, its a current standard of 8 wheelchair pick ups a month. That is not very many. If that is the standard, would that be for each driver or each medallion . And who is responsible for maintaining the standard applied to the ramp drivers themselves or the Cab Companies . Currently the medallion holder is responsible for that. And what incentives would the drivers have to maintain this service, if they dont have the medallion any more . If the company is just going to hire lease drivers to do these to drive these ramp medallions, how will the standard be maintained if theyre not employees . If theyre independent contractors, theyre unable to enforce, enforce any employee rules. So, i think you should consider that. And also the legislation mentions that about the current ramp drivers would be eligible to purchase this half price medallion, 150,000. Its not clear to me and i dont think youve ever made it clear where are these medallions going to come from . It hasnt ever its just not clear to me. Is it [speaker not understood] need to die and my medallion going to go back or is it part of the current batch you plan to put out . And also my favorite subject, uber side car and their ilk, the mustache cabs, how are they servicing the disabled community . And we need more taxis because that day could come and you real have i to consider that. If you go to open entry, our business is finished ferment who is going to service the disabled community . And also, you know, [speaker not understood] actually enjoy taking cabs when that day may come when we have no more cabs. Thank you, ms. Mcguire. Next speaker, please. Bruce oka followed by jacob madel and abner [speaker not understood]. Good afternoon, mr. Oka. Good afternoon. I hope i havent lost my [speaker not understood]. Im sure you havent. Its good to be back, by the way. Glad to have you back. Ive been on a long vacation [speaker not understood]. But, one of the things that i always have advocated is that we who ride the ramp taxis have a choice of companies that we take. And i want to make sure that that is the case. I really think that we should allow as Many Companies that want to have ramp medallions to get a chance to get them. Because i know we have a number of great ramp drivers and i know that [speaker not understood] yellow and de soto are the three biggest companies. But also every time the para Transit Program has conducted a trial on who is providing this service [speaker not understood] comes out and talk every time except monday i can remember. Their service is better than the others, believe it or not. And right now i use i dont stick to just one company. I use them all because thats what the program mr. Oka, let me ask you, director bridge man has a question. Good to see you. Im sorry. I was unclear. Are you in support of the change or not in support of the change . Well, you know, if the change is going to mean that only yellow [speaker not understood] and de soto are going to get the [speaker not understood] medallions that are turned back in, then were for it. Thank you. Well make sure we clarify that as we discuss. You need to let as Many Companies that want these medallions and that want drivers that have the ability to do so to do so. Thank you. Thank you. The community would [speaker not understood]. I think thats the main thing we want to make sure that we keep the best program in the country [speaker not understood]. And we he keep it that way. Thank you, mr. Oka. Good to see you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Jacob mazol, [speaker not understood], tadik mahmoud. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, commissioners, board members. Jacob mazol from San Francisco taxi. For the past two or three years since and im sorry for my voice. Im under the weather. But it seems to me that since the sfmta took over the taxicab regulations, no matter what sf town taxi would do, the mta managed to screw us. Just like many previous legislative pieces that came out from sfmta dashes services, this one is no different. Its so vague and its so unclear. I urge you to postpone the vote until we have a better [speaker not understood] from the Taxi Services of what and how theyre going to do it. I just cant stand it or i cant i cant take it any more to see all this vague and [speaker not understood] and unbelievable explanations or no explanations whatsoever. Why they did this or that legislation or they did a certain thing. So, i urge you, unless well get a [speaker not understood], unless i can get a clear explanation of everything that Taxi Services are going to do. Please do not vote [inaudible]. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Next speaker, please. [speaker not understood], [speaker not understood] mahmoud, peter jacobs. Good afternoon, sir. [speaker not understood], general manager de soto cab company. I want to stay on point. To me this is about two key issues. This is about running an accessible taxi, it costs a tremendous amount of money. Thats been one of the big problems so far with the program. And it also is a an Inconsistent Service level of service for the wheelchair riders at this point. So, the whole idea here is to do something so that people who can afford to run these cabs can do so, can do them efficiently and so that people in wheelchairs can get service thats on the same scale, same quality thats the same quality as any able bode i had person would be to have. Able bodied the companies under this scenario would have to compete for the wheelchair business, Wheelchair Accessible taxi business. I think thats a good thing. There is nothing in this legislation that says the ramps are going to go to any specific company. It actually creates a scenario where a Company Might find it in their best interest to put together a great ramp program and to try to win the ramp cabs away from another company. I think thats smart. Its competition and thats what the wheelchair community is going to appreciate, its going to bring Better Service to them. The one concern i do have is the 1500 a month for the medallion. Im not sure how thats going to work out. I think we need to go into it with an open mind, the cotv of acquiring the vehicles and maintaining the vehicles continues to go up. And the drivers spend a lot of money on fuel. So, what im concerned about is in order for me as a cab company to make this worth the time for the driver and not to have the public subsidize this service, i need to have be able to [speaker not understood] cabs to drive at a discount and that medallion fee will affect that. Thanks, sir. Next speaker. Tariq mahmoud followed by peter jacobs. Mr. Mahmoud. Good afternoon, directors. So, we go to the town hall meeting. The point of the meeting is to tell the people what mta wants to do and what people tell them whats the best way to do it. But when we go there, we just listen to lines. And if anybody try to go right or left, we have a tendency to scream on that person. Would you believe that two, three line we talked about the ramp, just saying the people were on the waiting list, they are getting these medallions. Now, the question is these medallions which are coming back, ramp medallions, who is going to hold them . How long they going to hold them . The drivers who are going to drive them, they need to have ramp training, too. Why they are going to get ramp training if they are not going to be permanent on that one . Nobody ask this question. Its a quite cumbersome issue, but nobody want to discuss in a meeting, town hall meeting, but they dont talk like that. They start 360 degree about over cab, about Something Else. We are there for ramp taxi issue. Nobody is talking properly. Weve been begging meeting, town hall meetings, nothing but a scam and a fraud. Steeriously, i ask 6, 7 times could we get to the subject, please . Mr. Reiskin [speaker not understood]. Now, the question is these medallions, who [speaker not understood] after they come back . Will they be permanent or not . Could they be given to some companies . Which companies . There is a company i just was talking to different people. Arrow said they are willing to give [speaker not understood] to people who will drive them and they will give them health care. I never heard of health care. [speaker not understood]. Please listen to these people. Forget about yellow, lets say de soto. Thank you. Next person. Peter jacobs. Last speaker card on this matter. Mr. Jacobs. Peter jacobs. Thank you. I think this proposal could be a great thing. I think it has a lot of potential. By having the Companies Control the medallion directly we can do a lot of exciting thing. We can have an employeeemployer relationship. We can enforce people going to and picking up rides and providing good service. But i want to echo some of the things people mentioned. Specifically incentivizing the drivers to do to want to drive these cars and to do a great job. We have tried to submit proposals to [speaker not understood] several times that outline how we can provide all the drivers with health care. I think that would be a really nice deal for drivers who have families who need to get some kind of security and deserve to have it. And weve never received any kind of response from her whatsoever. So, i like the proposal. I think it needs to be fleshed out. And also it has to do i want to touch on the issue of investment from the companies that have currently controlled the medallionses. We already have a loyal clientele