The Changes that I Have Told you were on the Taxi Horizon Are Coming
Or maybe not. First, soon there will be a similar meeting held at the King County Council, where they will attempt to match the bureaucratic language in somewhat competing yet cooperative ordinances. Another part of that "maybe not" comment is that it appears that ordinances will not be effective until March 31st, 2025, or March 31st, 2026 at the earliest.
Why such a long timeline I can't tell you but how can a 2-3 year lag-time or delay be reasonable? Much can happen, and for the taxicab industry, it could be the death knell for our local cab industry. If anyone is entirely honest, they know it's true, with only one truly operational taxi association, PSD/Yellow; and of course that motley crew working the Sea-Tac airport. The entire document numbers just over one-hundred pages, much of it repetitive language other than for a few highlights, which I will briefly describe.
The meeting itself had only two council members in actual physical attendance, Teresa Mosqueda, who led the meeting, and a very silent Sara Nelson sitting in the far left corner of the council chambers. Everyone else, including council staff members, appeared over Zoom video, science fiction now 21st Century reality.
In the audience sat perhaps 30-40 cabbies. A total of 12 people spoke, including myself, in 2-minute long slots. Amin, the PSD general manager, arrived a bit let but was allowed to testify. Most were there to support the new ordinance provision limiting association revenue from drivers to 10% of gross fare revenue. If that stays as written, it probably means the end to Seattle taxi associations as they have been known, 10% a starvation diet leading to the cab cemetery.
My two minutes spoke to the economic disparity between TNC and taxicab reality, repeating my now manta that the Seattle cabbie has to earn $18,000 in a given year before making a dime for themselves. I also said, that if new training is going to be required, it should also be mandatory for Uber and Lyft, with training problems designed by people like me. I know you and everyone else have had enough of our taxi lives directed by those who have never labored beneath the toplight. Do these well-meaning folks at the City and County really believe there will be a functional taxi industry to regulate in 2026? I can only laugh.
The following are the ordinances dictating your future, providing only the initial ordinance numbers along with some introductory text. In CB 120652, I will not include all the code numbers because, without the text, they will be meaningless.
CB 120652 AN ORDINANCE relating to taxicabs and for-hire vehicles; repealing or deleting provisions intended to no longer be in effect in separating the taxicab and transportation transportation company industries; conforming to changes in state law; adding a new section 6.310.101 to the Seattle Municipal code and sections...............
CB 120653 AN ORDINANCE relating to taxicabs and for-hire vehicles; separating and amending taxicab and for-hire industry regulations; adding a new chapter 6.311 to the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending Sections 11.14.235 and 15.17.005 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
CB 120656 AN ORDINANCE relating to the Department of Finance and Administrative Services; authorizing the Director of Finance and Administrative Services or designee to execute an inter-local agreement with King County to regulate for-hire transportation.
To get the full text sent to you, contact the Chair at 206-684-8808 or email teresa.mosqueda@seattle.gov to request what should have been sent to every taxi and TNC licensee in Seattle and KC. My taxi for-hire driver's license is still current. I never received anything. How did I find out about the meeting? Through a contact.
Perhaps one of the more compelling provisions offered by these changes would be the making of regional medallions, replacing the now separate City and County plates. This would also allow current City/County dual-plated cabs to magically become two "regionally-plated" cabs. Another is the transformation of flat rate for hire vehicles into taxicabs.
Years ago, like 15-17 years ago, the Seattle taxi industry were begging for more medallions. Now that the industry is nearly dead, with insurance rates 4-6 thousand dollars higher than for TNC operation, Seattle and King County is proposing expanding the number of taxis. Isn't that nonsensical, underlining the regulatory mismanagement we have seen now for decades? Yes, nonsensical appears to be the correct assessment.
WAT Van Operator Dead in the Taxi Water
At the meeting, I sat next to my old taxi colleague, D.T. He had some alarming news. Someone had crashed into his van, destroying it. In the interval, waiting for the other driver's insurance to come through, he sits, unable to work. I asked if his van was covered by personal collision insurance? He said no, that he couldn't obtain coverage. Odd story. I advised him to forget about taxi and drive Uber. No overhead and easy money. Why not? There is absolutely no GOOD personal financial incentive to continue driving a taxi. As I keep saying, Uber and Lyft won the transportation wars. Taxicab drivers are the walking wounded.
Beyonce Uber Surge Magic
I worked Uber Thursday night, anticipating making some money because of the silliness associated with the Beyonce concert located at Lumen Field (the Seahawk stadium). No business until 11:30 PM, then suddenly it was BOOM!, Uber ride requests exploding, and due to Uber's infamous fare price surging, I instantly was making BIG money.
What happened in my two hours post-concert was unusual, something I haven't experienced other than when working a long-distance fare. I made $120.00 per hour for two connective hours. Do the simple addition and that's $240.00 for two hours work.
In my 35-plus years driving taxi, under normal fare circumstances, that never happened before. Plenty of $50.00 hours connectively but not like this. Is Uber stealing from its customers? Obviously they are. Another element included in these new taxi ordinances are smart meters allowing for a similar type of price gouging. Isn't that nice, taxi as immoral as Uber.
I will remind you of that well know saying,"laughing all the way to the bank." But is all this actually funny? No, it isn't. No "Ha Ha Ha" this time around.
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