in medallion sales. the men and women that seek a livelihood and to maintain the value, for those investing in their financial future by purchasing a medallion. regarding the issuance of new medallions raises significant concern. the particular concern is the creation of another medallion private home -- a pilot program released by drivers. he the proposal is concerning for several reasons. it seems inconsistent with the prior actions last year when it established a program to provide an exit from the industry and bring a new generation of medallion holders. it has just completed its first year and it has been very successful in providing $20 million to older and disabled medallion holders. it still has no permanent long- term plan that direction from the board. the proposal seeks to add another type of medallion under another type of pilot program that struggles to maintain regulatory oversight and enforcement. if forgoes the public convenience and even though it will add taxes, it may have significant

owned medallions. that is what is being debated here. the cab companies have to have full-time medallions because they are vehicle leasing firms and that is not necessarily the same thing as addressing the issue of transportation service. taxi drivers are considered to be self-employed business owners and because they are, they have to be given the opportunity to have some degree of ownership in the business. that is what the single operator taxicab is. i strongly recommend you please to go forward with a single operator taxi medallion. my recommendation is to go forward with a three-year lease plan and at the end, give drivers the option to own to purchase the medallion. that is one way to deal with this. as far as rote -- company representatives say they cannot meet service demands, that is what we need single operator taxicab medallions. as far as them not being viable, they are. the plan that is being proposed today is uniquely san franciscan. it is not the toronto embassador cab that people are ta

issue medallions under the leading less. if any new medallion is issued, it should go the drivers on the waiting list. use l 6 and in the hands and you get $225,000. under this proposal, you sell one medallion and you get more than $225,000. [chime] chairman nolan: next speaker. >> i am a member of the taxi advisor a council. of like to take issue with the claims a couple of previous speakers that a new constitution, that anybody is trying to kill the pilot program. i don't know of anybody that has that in mind. there are people on the pilot program who have for it any kind of discussion of fair system to come out of this. there are a lot of us still concerned with people on the list as the last speaker just spoke, they spend their career trying to get their medallion and planning of with all of this stuff. we put up with a lot of stuff. the are a lot of us the lead to discuss a possible future program that would be fair, and presented as a compromise solution. the pilot program was a small number of medallions and we will s

for medallions. they're not making money out of it and they want to continue their kingdom of corruption. they're ready a system is down to zero and they are telling you a different story. i can sit with you one hour and explained their radio system is garbage. give me -- they are lying to you continuously. i proved to them last week. i have wrong calls on the on not able to stand with me. coming to this, they are -- i do requests some changes in the sand that is what, get them out of the company's hands, i request to you, i gave you the paper. what time to what time, [unintelligible] this is the future of san francisco. you are seeing it. this is the future of this industry and the public will be [unintelligible] we have hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and please approve this today. thank you. >> the public -- this will be the last speaker. anyone else want to identify themselves, this is your chance. good afternoon. >> good afternoon. i believe the answer is centralized dispatching. if a

you are selling medallions. you are gibvinving medallions on the seniority list. they come and claim a medallion. the dirverrivers not on the lisd their opportunity to put their name on the list. i waited ten years to put my name on the list. i urge you to revisit this matter and make a change to issue on the waiting list. it is unfair to drivers like me who have been drivingt continuoosly. i will never receive a note medallion under this system. -- a both medallion under this system. i would like to ask you one more time. where is my medallion? the medallion ironed and deserve. don't let me cry, please. thank you. what happened in the last meeting, it was on purpose to encourage the cab drivers with no english or little english to come up here and speak for their rights. yes on bill of rights for the come drivers. that will do. >> thank you. our neck speakers. -- next speakers. cresskill afternoon. i have been a san francisco cab driver for more than 25 years. i was a lease driver and ramp cab permit holder and driver. six years ago i got my medallion. i have lov

the sale of medallions should continue. let's have the medallions. >> that is the last one to turn in a speaker card. >> one of the people who spoke was interested in some sort of traffic control device at the interest -- entrance of the park. we don't handle that the board level, but will someone let her know how to deal with that through staff? she came all the way down here, i hope she leaves with the information on how to start that process. someone said it illegal parking tickets are being issued. i suspect we know the answer to that, but it seems to me there is a definitive answer on if the parking tickets are issued properly or not. i forgot that man's name, but i think he deserves an answer. chairman nolan: i agree with that. we had least know his name. evidently, he has been in contact with the department, though i agree with that. any member of the public that want anything removed? members of the board? >> this has to do with the t- zone up on rothaway. is this the same one we put in with lots of fanfraare and no

position is to deny the medallion? your position as the agency would be for this board to apply the standard at the time he applied? >> correct. vice president garcia: that is not exactly what you said the first time you spoke to us, is it? >> i am sorry? you mean today? vice president garcia: just moments ago. >> that is what i said. i said our opinion is that when he became eligible for a medallion in the fall of 2008, when his application on the wait list came up, he was ineligible. vice president garcia: do not add that were the board to apply the current transportation code, the m.t.a. would not be opposed? >> i did add that. commissioner peterson: thank you for that clarification. commissioner hwang: on principle, i do oppose using the standard of the day, simply because there is an incredible incentive to get driving quickly, when the whole idea of the standard that was implemented prior to the current was to allow full time -- existing full-time driving workforce taxi drivers to get the medallion. now, that is

as you know, it was formed to evaluate the medallion pilot program. i attended the last meeting at it seems to be composed of the majority of members that seem intent on undermining the sales program. the only do i find this confusing, the lenders are starting to be affected as well. what if they stop lending? hard-working career drivers, some of them have invested their life savings. i have a friend that invested $175,000 of money he saved during his entire working career. if this program fails and they stop lending, what are you going to do? are you going to reimburse these people? there have been 120 transfers. i really find it curious that the director has created a scenario that could potentially sabotages program. i wonder if she is thinking with a clear head here. particularly with an item 12. you are giving them no exit strategy. it puts the public in danger and imposes a potential liability on the city. thank you. >> thank you so much, good afternoon. i like to address how to items, what about the mason street. we have to use that area, we ha

thanks to the medallion sales pilot program, a retired cabbie. the weather tends tog e get warm in september and october. taxi drivers are your friends. i'm here to support the return of taxi services back to a full division. the way i see it, her mojo has been making taxi changes work. the results have been remarkably positive. i am worried about undermining a fair and democratic approach. it has been beyond her tenure. and hilly -- ed healy had a blog busting limos and investigating limos. i feel taxi services needs to be a division to counter the power plays in our industry. i thank you for what you are doing for the city will love. >> thank you. >> our next speakers. >> good afternoon. thank you for the cost of living increase. let me express the next hope is recommended in tears, not in a and there will be no more politicization. many problems, balance and functionality would be resolved if the taxi division would be restored to the blanket enjoyed. finance and kept driving are organizations of two different functions. it is thought of as ex

vice president garcia: i would move this board overturn the denial of the application for a medallion, based on grounds that -- go ahead. >> we are overturning the decision. given the various comments by the commissioners, the unique situation of this case vice president garcia: with findings to be written at a later date. >> we have a motion from the vice president to overrule the denial, at issue this medallion, with the adoption of findings at a later time. on that motion -- commissioner fung: aye. president goh: aye. commissioner peterson: aye. aye. -- commissioner hwang: aye. >> the appeal is granted and the denial is overruled. adoption of findings will be scheduled later on. president goh: we are going commissioner fung: you know what works. >> welcome back to the august 2011 board of appeals. we are: item eight. golden valley neighborhood association, shirley jacobs, jeffrey lee, and megan chechile protesting the issuance of a permit to alter a building, a revision to exterior patio and submitting planning code 312 notification. the public hearing was held june 22, 2011. it is

and at that time, the board voted 5-0 to grant the appeal, overall the denial, and issue the taxi medallioney are in agreement with the findings as drafted. they are both here if you have any questions. president goh: i will move the adoption of these. secretary pacheco: on the motion to adopt these findings, commissioner fung, vice president garcia, commissioner peterson, commissioner hwang, the vote is 5-0, those findings are adopted. director goldstein: a building permit application, and its variance granted on july 21, 2010, and the building permit was issued in 2011. the variance is on presidio. it is for a rear yard and noncompliance structure, and the building permit is to demolish the rear wing, at the stairs and elevators, reconfigure the north, east, and south sides of the roof, the elevator shaft, two dormers, and windows.

how much has the price of a big apple taxi medallion increased since 1980? 1,000%.ate throws to $700,000. how that for a smart investment? 1,000% is tonight's big number. >>> up next, as we come upon the anniversary of the 9/11 attack, one big question on everybody's mind. are we safer now? >>> you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. i here is what is happening.ç >>> texas is battling wildfires by the worst draught in years. hopefully it brings them much-needed rains. >>> joran van der sloot is charged with murder. you will remember he was cred the prime suspect in the disappearance of natalee holloway in 2005. now back to "hardball." >>> we are not yet in the place in this country where the first responders can talk with one another. ten years after 9/11 we are not yet at the place where we know who's in charge at the site of a disaster. >>> welcome back to "hardball." that's the 9/11 co-chairman on responding to a terror attack that exists a decade after the 9/11 attacks. of the 41 recommendations, the u.s. falls short on nine of them and they range from things

. >> they had a lot of medallions and reliefs. >> the working class would go out to go swimming in theocean. the wealthy would stay downtown like in the marines memorial or the elk and they would have heated saltwater. people wanted to swim in salt water. >> how did the water get there? >> there was a pipe that allowed it to flow all the way down. that pipe rusted out. people went swimming in the saltwater pools and they had different temperatures. >> you could have a cold swim or a warm swim. >> how did they heat this? >> he had a huge boiler. they're still trying to figure out exactly how he sucked in the sea water. he had a pumping system. >> didn't sutro make his initial fortune by being the engineer who figured out how to ventilate the mines at virginia city? >> that is the way he would phrase it. >> he drained them for water, not for air. >> he got backers for the tunnel. he said, we need this tunnel for safety, for air, for ventilation. he got this tunnel built and he got people to back it. just before it opened, it was proved to be not real helpful. he got out with his money. >

how much has the price of a big apple taxi medallion increased since 1980? 1,000%.throws to $700,000. how that for a smart investment? 1,000% is tonight's big number. >>> up next, as we come upon the anniversary of the 9/11 attack, one big question on everybody's mind. are we safer now? >>> you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. it's been a good year for the chevy silverado. and not because of the awards or the accolades. no, it was good because you told us so. the chevy model year wrap up. get in on our greatest model year yet. just announced -- celebrate labor day with an additional $500 bonus cash. with all other offers, including the all-star edition discount, that's a total value of $6,500. ♪ our greatest model year yet is wrapping up. or creates another laptop bag or hires another employee, it's not just good for business -- it's good for the entire community. at bank of america, we know the impact that local businesses have on communities, so we're helping them with advice from local business experts and extending $18 billion in credit last year. that's ho

i received a medallion three years ago. i am president of the cab drivers association. i would like to welcome you to the new transportation director. i would like to convey the importance of the taxi industry, have its own division within the mta as it did when we moved into it. it makes no sense to me that entire industry which includes 1600 vehicles, around 10,000 drivers and support personnel be folded into the administration division and now in the finance division of the mta. the director has done an incredible job educating yourself about the industry. she has held over two ordered hours of town hall meetings and made herself available by visiting cab companies and attending various meetings. she studied the industry, including reviewing all the previous taxi commission hearing videos. as it stands now, she is the deputy tax a director. although the cfo is excellent, as a taxi director, she has lived and knowledge rent a standing of the industry. i may not agree with every decision she has made but she has demonstrated a sense of fairness and concern for stakehol

hoping that things will get better for the ordinary cabdriver's instead of the cab companies and medallion holders. we need that change badly, immediately. thank you very much. you had a good day. director nolan: thank you. next speaker please. >> my name is rowland. i represent the paratransit. i would like to follow-up on bruce oka's comment on taxis. i am also a taxi user. sometimes i do find that we cannot board on the current from the back, and oftentimes, there is not enough ramps to board, so having sideways taxis will benefit most of the people who use wheelchairs, so i am hoping to support the idea of finding more sideways ramp taxis so they will be more accessible for us. thank you. director nolan: thank you. >> the last person who has turned in a speaker card. >> greetings, directors. speaking of recognitions, greetings. i would like to present you with my report on the taxi industry that i wrote last month, a copy that i set aside for you. there are a lot of meetings, and pretty much every one of these board meetings, there are zero words that go up. i do not expect an answer,

and now, all grown u u still wearing her dad's firefighter medallion. that's great. going to keep that for life, i bet. >> hi, diane, i'm kevin. >> reporter: and the toddler who told us -- >> my dad's name is kevin and i'm kevin. kevin kevin. >> reporter: this is kevin kevin now. and so one-by-one, they poured into the room, bringing the most precious possessions they have. dad's lacrosse stick. a biking jersey. >> i sleep with one of his shirts. >> reporter: why? >> because it just makes me feel good and safe. >> reporter: and what every child in this room told us they treasure the most. someone tells them, of course, they're daddy's child. >> they say i look like him. >> they say he was free spirited and said that i was, too. >> sometimes i ask, does he look like me? she says yes. i look exactly like him. >> come to daddy, buddy. >> reporter: robert atwood's dad gerald was a firefigiger. the thing that staysysn your mind? >> his look. >> reporter: how do you mean? >> it's him, he has his hat on, ladder 21. has -- it's all his gear, like, when i go, when i'm trying

it terrorizes our eyes and chest hair and medallions. the bartenders terrorize our wallet with the mixed drinks. they are not very mixed. and the bouncers terrorize me by not letting me in that wonderful, wonderful paradise. i want to club, greg. i am behind the velvet rope every time. that's profiling. that's dorky profiling. >> i have to tell you, this is why we don't go out. i am terrified. "project runway" is back on and i am excited. these days you have to risk being flish. if you see something, and it makes you nervous, you have to risk looking stupid and saying something. i think that's what you have to do. >> what if you are saying something and it is really slur re. >> would they even understand you? >> sometimes it is not politically correct. >> you don't have to commit a hate crime. >> but it is interesting. nothing in the brochure ever approached that. it was always just the things. >> and clubs is usually love crimes. >> from blowing it up to packing it in. wit the political obit say he quit? according to ed morissey, instea