The squabbling reminds me of a conversation I had over a beer last year with former cab driver and Taxi Advisory Council member Bill Minikel (photo).
Bill said that the way cab companies were reacting to Uber reminded him of a science fiction movie where the earthlings were so involved fighting each other that they didn't notice a gargantuan space ship hovering above the earth about to wipe out civilization.
An even better analogy today. The invaders have already zapped half the planet and our fearless leaders still think that the only way to fight them is to pursue the same self-indulgent policies that attracted the aliens in the first place.
Divided and ready to be conquered.
This just in: LA county has issued cease and desist orders to Uber, Lyft et al unless and until they have PUC licenses.
ReplyDeleteSF county does not have the balls to do that to Ed Lee's contributors
um...i like la county. if they require a TCP num. well, a lot folks who work for these apps will evaporate rather quickly. why ? cuz it takes some serious cash upfront to get the puc letter. $1K check for the TCP application alone (non refundable), $1.5K for airport gizmo, $3-4K liability insurance (you pay 1/4 upfront) then is $300ish a month circa. this does not count your regular monthly insurance. Its a lot of money if you are unemployed and most of these folks MUST be unemployed or else they wouldn't be driving their car during biz hours.
Deletebut the local Ed "I WONT RUN FOR MAYOR" Lee is a showoff-app-nerd who cares less than Willie "A monkey can drive a cab" Brown who of course is also the lawyer and investor in Tickengo. in the city we have no one to speak for us, and therein lies the biggest problem.
I hope "they" Yellow cab, De Soto Cab , Luxor Cab, SFMTA get there act together soon cause this un regulated
ReplyDeletething is hitting hard...
If you want a lifetime of misery, bad health and an early grave now's the time to buy a medallion.
ReplyDeleteI'm in process of getting one for 125K now you are depressing me...but I have come this far can't stop now..even though I am afraid you might be right, but have to hope you are wrong...
DeleteAt 125k you've got a good deal. If we get rid of Lyft and Sidecar, you've got a great one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying that..I am definitely advocating for the cab industry to get rid Lyft and Sidecar
DeleteWhy pay to drive can and buy the metal plates while everyone can put a pink mustache and act like a cab? Since Ed Lee's daughter is part of Lyft, everyone has flu and become an innovative as our great Mayor said.
ReplyDeletethe anti-corruption wave flagging ed lee's daughter works at lyft...say it ain't so. im shocked.
DeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteCould you elaborate on Ed Lee's daughter being part of Lyft? The outrages just don't stop. When the City was strapped for cash a few years ago, the real entrepreneurs stepped in. They paid the City $250,000 for a medallion and agreed to pay yearly fees to the city in excess of $1,500. These were cab drivers who had paid a fee and spent up to 15 years on a waiting list for a Medallion while serving the public as taxi drivers. One of the most dangerous professions in the world. The definition of an entrepreneur by the way according to the dictionary is a person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture. That is what taxi driving medallion holders do.
Now Mayor Lee along with the former Mayor Newsom have made it clear they have no problem watching the taxi industry along with MUNI eradicated. These comments by Mayor Newsom who demanded that Medallions be sold to generate income for the city are documented. He actually said he would not be bothered if the public transportation system in San Francisco were eliminated and replaced by disruptive tech pioneers. These two are servants to their campaign contributors instead of the working people of San Francisco. The new sharing economy is really about making life more convenient for 20 somethings with a big wallet who want everything tailored to them at the expense of the general public. Take a look at this piece to really get a sense of what their goal is.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3013272/does-the-sharing-economy-have-a-shadow-side
And if they don't like the way things go for them, they create an on-line petition to inundate and intimidate their local politicians and taking a stance that favors them. They are really noting more than spoiled bullies.
strange...
ReplyDelete