S.F. MAYOR: CABLE CAR FARE THEFTS

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he is convinced some cable car conductors are stealing fare money -- and that the Municipal Railway needs to change the way it collects cash to stop the thefts.

Newsom said he believes conductors are skimming fares from cash-paying riders because on three occasions he rode the cable cars and handed over his $5 cash fare but never received the required receipt.

The mayor said that another time he observed a conductor collecting five or six fares on a packed cable car "and didn't give one receipt for any of them." And, he added, "that's just one moment" in time.

"I am convinced, based on my own personal experience, (the money) is not going to Muni, but it's going in the pockets of some of our well-meaning operators," Newsom said.

Great moments in Blue city transportation.