TAC: Pushing for a Final Plan

This photo was taken toward the end of the 1-9-12 Taxi advisory Council meeting. Chris Sweis, Athan Rebelos, Richard Hybels, Rua Graffis and Tim Lapp are seen (sort of) tying to clarify a methodology for deciding how to organize the various plans (or parts of plans) for a making the Pilot Plan (or parts thereof) permanent - or not - so that the TAC could vote on the various concepts.

To be fair, this is a real problem. Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin has apparently asked TAC Chair Chris Sweis to come up with a permanent plan soon. Deputy Director of Taxi Services Chris Hayashi also told the MTA Board that she could present them with a plan in February.

BUT ... The last three or four meeting of the TAC have been taken up largely with new plans - mostly conflicting with each other - on how to structure the future of San Francisco's taxi industry.

I have a some thoughts on the subject.

1. I think it's better to the job right then to do it fast.

2. I do not think that the TAC is equipped to sort through the various ideas to find a solution. Because of the all the rules that the council has follow, it simply takes too long for them to deal with an issue. In a normal meeting they'll cover one or two subjects. The question of the future of the cab business is open ended and multifaceted.

3. The best method would be to have Ms. Hayashi use her famous white boards to deal with this subject at a couple or more Town Hall Meetings. She should be able to bring order out of chaos (as she has done so often in the past) and draw up a coherent plan.  The plan would then go to TAC for a final discussion and vote.