Hackney Reform is needed more now than ever. A civilian commission would give a voice to the drivers and the public served by the taxi industry. It would provide for a more efficient, just and transparent system.
Transition Task Force
A task force of transportation experts, representing all interest groups affected by the taxi industry, will lay the groundwork to transition from BPD Hackney Unit oversight to a civilian commission. The BTDA supports the concept of a task force and is eager to participate in its work. However, it is critical that a neutral city administrator, not a representative of the Hackney unit, facilitate the body with public meetings held at City Hall. This body should be mandated to transition the industry towards regulation by a taxi commission. The city should also reject any representatives to this board who are currently under investigation for corruption or illegal activity by city, state or federal agencies.
Boston Taxi and Limousine Commission
A Civilian Commission should be created to regulate and administer all for hire vehicles within the City of Boston. Its mission would be to ensure prompt, safe, honest, efficient and courteous taxi and for hire vehicle service to the residents and visitors of Boston and provide and open forum for debate and discussion of all issues concerning public vehicles for hire in Boston. This would include all smart app service, shuttle buses, limousines and personal for hire vehicles.
Reform of Boston’s taxi regulatory system will require a home rule petition and legislative approval. A Boston Taxi and Limousine Licensing Commission (BTLC) would be a city agency consisting of a salaried administrator and staff, overseen by a board chaired by the administrator and consisting of both ex-officio and mayor-appointed members. The Mayor will select the Commissioner with the majority consent and approval of the City Council. The Commission would be charged with the responsibility of issuing licenses and enforcing rules regulations, local ordinances and state laws pertaining to the sale and purchase of medallions, taxi vehicles and drivers, jitneys, livery/limousines and drivers, dispatch, smart app or other methods used in reserving or hailing a vehicle for hire. The Board will meet and hold public hearings regularly, e.g. bimonthly. The salaried Chairman presides over the Board and acts as head of the agency, which carries out the Commission’s day-to-day licensing, regulatory, enforcement and adjudicatory functions. Other than exofficio
members, Board appointments are made by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council, to serve a four-year term.
BTLC Advisory Board
The BTLC shall establish an Advisory Board representing the full spectrum of the transportation industry. Constituents may include the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Boston Labor Council, the USW/BTDA, medallion owners, Boston Center for Independent Living, Massachusetts Senior Action, school transportation, etc. The Advisory Board will have a major role in developing transportation policy and procedures.
For the full outline go to uswbtda.org.
The full report was presented to the Mayor.
Rahim Abbasi joins GBLC Futures Committee
Rahim Abbasi is the BTDA’s delegate to the Futures Committee of the Greater Boston Labor Council (GBLC). On February 22, Rahim represented the BTDA at the Greater Boston Labor Council’s Futures Committee which brought together over 100 young workers from unions and organizations in the Boston area for a conference focused on fighting for good jobs in the city of Boston. He attended workshops on campaign planning and using our stories to win change. Members of the Futures Committee are young union leaders from across the Greater Boston area that meet monthly to discuss how to empower young workers withintheir locals and across the region. Rahim is also a member of the BTDA organizing committee.
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