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Supervisor Fiona Ma Wants to Eliminate Gate Control
Removal of Cap Would Allow
Companies to Raise Gates
As High as They Want

Supervisor Fiona Ma has introduced legislation at the Board of Supervisors to eliminate the gate cap that limits the amount cab companies can charge drivers for leasing taxis by the shift.
The cap, which first went into effect in 1999, is currently $85 per shift, according to a legislative analysis prepared for the Board of Supervisors in connection with the Ma legislation. The gate should be reduced by an additional $1.50 per shift owing to the Jan. 1 expiration of a taxi industry subsidy to the paratransit program.
The legal cap was $91.50 until October 2004, but it came down to $85 because the Board of Supervisors did not approve a promised health care plan for cab drivers. (See article at top of page.) Nevertheless, all major cab companies still charge $91.50 a shift.
The Ma legislation also provides for a $1-per-ride “gas surcharge” to be added to the fare. The recent surge in gas prices is hurting drivers badly, but the surcharge is meaningless without a gate cap because cab companies could pocket the increased revenues themselves.
Ma introduced the proposed amendments at the Board of Supervisors in February. She had previously proposed increasing the cap to $94, but cab companies apparently prevailed upon her to get rid of it entirely.
Ma represents the Sunset neighborhood on the Board of Supervisors and is a candidate for the State Assembly in Assembly District 12, which roughly covers the western half of the city and part of San Mateo County. She has received significant campaign contributions from both cab companies and permit holders.
Several contributions, including $1,000 from Yellow Cab, were made either shortly before or after Ma introduced her amended legislation to eliminate the gate cap. As of mid-April, Yellow had contributed $1,750 to Ma’s campaign.
The San Francisco Taxi Permitholders & Drivers Association (PDA), a group consisting mainly of taxi medallion holders, has contributed $1,250 to the campaign. The original version of Ma’s legislation reinstituted an expired $1,800 cap on lease fees paid to medallion holders by cab companies. But the amended version dropped the lease fee cap provision.
The Taxi Commission was to hold a hearing on Ma’s legislation on April 25, after our press deadline.