San Francisco medallion holders urge board to examine MTA policies and ADA compliance
December 01, 2021 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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Marcela Fonseca, a career cab driver and K medallion holder, told the San Francisco Board of Appeals on Dec. 1 that the Municipal Transportation Agency’s recent enforcement and program changes are harming long-time medallion owners.
"The MTA in the city of San Francisco [is] preying on us," Fonseca said, and she alleged the agency removed permanently disabled medallion holders from participation in the medallion surrender-sales program on Sept. 7, 2021. Fonseca said municipal code language conflicts with Prop K and federal disability law and urged the board to "look into what the MTA is doing very carefully."
Charles Rathbone, another Prop K medallion holder, challenged claims that medallions are worthless, citing court records showing the credit union sold 90% of a $36 million medallion-loan package and noting large differences in expert valuations. "During the court case, MTA's expert witness placed the current value of a San Francisco taxi medallion at $130,000," Rathbone said, while another witness put value closer to $30,000, suggesting market pricing may fall between those figures if sales resume.
Other callers associated with medallion-holders' concerns described long waits for resale opportunities and contested agency decisions they say undermine holders’ ability to exit the industry with dignity.
Board staff reminded commissioners that the appeals and enforcement actions referenced by speakers were not on the night's agenda and should not be considered in this meeting; members of the public will have opportunity to comment when those matters appear on future agendas.
What it means: Callers framed the dispute as legal and policy conflict among Prop K, municipal code, the MTA’s administrative actions and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and they cited prior litigation and settlement documents. The Board of Appeals did not take any formal action on those claims at this meeting; public comment was recorded for the record and will be available when the appeal items come before the board.
"The MTA in the city of San Francisco [is] preying on us," Fonseca said, and she alleged the agency removed permanently disabled medallion holders from participation in the medallion surrender-sales program on Sept. 7, 2021. Fonseca said municipal code language conflicts with Prop K and federal disability law and urged the board to "look into what the MTA is doing very carefully."
Charles Rathbone, another Prop K medallion holder, challenged claims that medallions are worthless, citing court records showing the credit union sold 90% of a $36 million medallion-loan package and noting large differences in expert valuations. "During the court case, MTA's expert witness placed the current value of a San Francisco taxi medallion at $130,000," Rathbone said, while another witness put value closer to $30,000, suggesting market pricing may fall between those figures if sales resume.
Other callers associated with medallion-holders' concerns described long waits for resale opportunities and contested agency decisions they say undermine holders’ ability to exit the industry with dignity.
Board staff reminded commissioners that the appeals and enforcement actions referenced by speakers were not on the night's agenda and should not be considered in this meeting; members of the public will have opportunity to comment when those matters appear on future agendas.
What it means: Callers framed the dispute as legal and policy conflict among Prop K, municipal code, the MTA’s administrative actions and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and they cited prior litigation and settlement documents. The Board of Appeals did not take any formal action on those claims at this meeting; public comment was recorded for the record and will be available when the appeal items come before the board.
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