Emergency Taxi Commission session on Monday may result in Machen being reinstated

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

June 30, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed two new commissioners yesterday to fill vacant spots on the San Francisco Taxicab Commission.

The announcement comes a day after Executive Director Heidi Machen was removed from her position by a 4-2 vote at a commission meeting that ran until 2 a.m. Wednesday.

"I am pleased to appoint Tom Oneto and Malcolm Heinicke as two new additions to the Taxicab Commission," Newsom said.

"Both Tom and Malcolm bring valuable expertise to their new post and share my commitment to reforming San Francisco's taxi industry."

The appointments are likely a move to reinstate Machen as executive director. Newsom said yesterday that he was displeased with the decision to remove her from the post -- especially in a pre-dawn closed-session meeting.

In an earlier news conference, he said, "We're going to right this wrong."

Machen served as the commission's executive director since Aug. 2005. Newsom chose Machen, his former aide while a San Francisco Supervisor, for the post from list of worthy candidates prepared by the commission, according to Acting Director Tristan Bettencourt.

Commission President Martin Smith called an emergency meeting for Monday morning to appoint a permanent executive director, and with the two new mayor-appointed commissioners, there is a possibility that Machen will have her job back by next week, according to Bettencourt.

"Very likely they'll bring Heidi Machen back because she's the most experienced candidate in the city for the job," he said.

Tuesday's session went into the early hours of Wednesday because three commissioners, Smith, Mary McGuire and Patricia Bresslin had to convince Commissioner Michael Kwok to change his vote.

"I guess after several hours under the bright lights in the back room, he caved," Bettencourt said.

Martin, when reached for comment, said he did not want to comment on the new appointments and that he would be more available on Monday after the emergency session, scheduled for 9 a.m. in room 400 of City Hall.

The commission was created in 1998 to take over regulatory and administrative duties previously held by the police commission. The commission oversees the 1,381 medallions awarded to cab owners, and the 7,500 licenses given to drivers.

The two new commissioners will be filling vacant spots left by former commission President Arthur Jackson, who died in April, and Mary McGuire who will be leaving the commission.

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