Government

Taxicab Commission Pressed Over 13 Missing Medallions, Improper Licenses and Stalled Enforcement

Lawmakers on Monday pressed V.I. Taxicab Commission Executive Director Melissa Smith over missing medallions, improperly issued taxi licenses and lingering enforcement deficiencies documented by the Inspector General, with several senators arguing that the agency has yet to demonstrate enough progress in correcting problems that in some cases stretch back decades. Ms. Smith appeared before the Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection to discuss the findings of the Inspector General's March audit of the Commission's administrative functions. She emphasized that the review covered fiscal years 2018 through 2022, before she assumed leadership, but acknowledged that the findings left the current administration with significant corrective work to perform. The audit was particularly severe. The Office of the V.I. Inspector General found 13 unsold taxi medallions missing, licenses granted to seven applicants who had failed the required written examination...