Changes in the taxi cab industry may soon make it more difficult to earn a living as a cabbie in San Francisco. Mauro Saldanha, an independent San Francisco cab driver, takes us out for a shift and tells us how he feels these issues will effect him and his customers on a daily basis. Also, hear representatives from the San Francisco Taxi Commission, the United Taxi Cab Workers, and San Francisco’s largest cab company comment on the issues Mauro raises.
“Mauro’s Shift” was an attempt to use short clips of video nested in a basic Flash shell to elucidate some of the complex issues facing cab drivers in San Francisco. Amy and I spent a night out with 10-year veteran cab driver Mauro Saldanha, working the late shift and discussing some of the issues he’s been facing recently, as gas prices rise and the city re-negotiates how much cab companies can charge their drivers for cab rentals. Mauro also explained the city’s complex medallion system and the ongoing issues concerning health care. After, we met with representatives from San Francisco’s largest cab company, the Taxi Commission, and cab driver advocates for their thoughts.
Site Design: Eric Zassenhaus
Reporting & Editing: Eric Zassenhaus & Amy Jeffries