July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Taxicab Restriction Decision Delayed:

An ordinance before the Santa Monica City Council at its June 22 meeting that would cut the number of allowed taxicabs in the city nearly in half was delayed until this fall. Around one hundred taxicab employees greeted councilmembers and attendees with protest signs and were ready to bombard the dais with testimonials. That enthusiasm will have to wait until the council hears the issue in September.

The decision was postponed for both procedural and scheduling reasons based on a last-minute recommendation from City staff, explained Rod Gould, the city manager.

The city charter requires a two-step process to award any kind franchise in the city. The first step is the adoption of a resolution declaring the intent to hear the matter. This must be followed within 60 days with the actual adoption of the franchise.

“Sorry for the inconvenience for the many people who came down, but we want to do things the right way,” said Mayor Bobby Shriver from the dais.

Looking at the council’s schedule of meetings this summer with the Land Use and Circulation Element and other important matters, Gould explained that his staff found it difficult to find a meeting followed by a second required meeting anytime soon. The earliest the matter could be procedurally address is September, with the second required meeting in October, said Don Patterson, the City’s business and revenue operations manager. This would push implementation of the ordinance back to January 2011.

“We think the public will be well served by the delay,” Gould said. “It will give people plenty of time to be adequately noticed and will allow for plenty of public dialogue on the matter.”

A 2008 study by NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates of taxicab operations in Santa Monica found that the City’s open-entry taxicab permitting system allowed the operation of too many cabs for the market. In July 2009, the Council adopted an ordinance replacing the open-entry permitting system regulating taxicab services in Santa Monica with the franchise system.

This move was aimed at addressing issues of pollution, traffic congestion, parking problems, operating standards, an oversupply of taxicabs in the local market and other effects of the open-entry system. The franchise system limits the number of taxicab companies to no more than eight companies and limits the total number of vehicles in the taxicab fleet to 250.

“The goal of the whole process was the have a high quality and a predictable service of a taxis in Santa Monica,” said Patterson.

Currently, there are 44 taxicab services operating in Santa Monica and a total of 463 taxicabs. The ordinance would trim the number of taxicab services down to five companies with a total of 250 taxicabs (50 each). But that leaves 39 companies banned from picking up customers in the City.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for citywide taxicab franchises was issued on January 14, with a March 19 response deadline in which only 13 qualified proposals were received – meaning 31 companies did not apply.

Those that did were evaluated based on the criteria of specific emission, mileage standards, and other measurements.

Based on the evaluation, City staff recommends:

• Bell Cab Company

• Independent Taxi Owners Association

• Metro Cab Company

• Taxi Taxi

• Yellow Cab Company

The way the licensing would work is that only these five companies would be allowed to pick up customers in Santa Monica. Any company can drop customers off in Santa Monica if they were picked up elsewhere.

Patterson was quick to clarify that it is only the staff’s recommendation that will allow only five taxicab companies in the city. Ultimately, it is the council’s decision on the exact number of companies allowed to operate.

in News
<>Related Posts

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...