District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Lee A. Williams Confirmation Resolution of 2000
PR 13-858

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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To confirm the appointment of Mr. Lee A. Williams to the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Lee A. Williams Confirmation Resolution of 2000".

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of

Mr. Lee A. Williams
1168 Washington Avenue
Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076

as chairperson of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, established by section 5 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Code §40-1704), to serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, each to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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Biography of Lee A. Williams
1168 Washington Avenue
Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076
(973) 733-8912 Work (908) 233-8071 Home

Mr. Williams was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His family moved to Newark, New Jersey shortly after his birth and he continues to reside there. Mr. Williams was educated in the New Jersey public school system. He is a graduate of South Side High School (now Malcolm X. Shabazz High School) and the Newark Police Academy. In addition, he completed coursework at North Carolina A&T State University.

Mr. Williams joined the Newark Police Department in 1963 where he was a patrol officer and later a vice detective. Between 1983 and 1990, Mr. Williams was head of the police unit within the Newark Police Department that is responsible for enforcing taxi laws and regulations, training taxi drivers, and supervising taxi inspectors. While head of this unit, Mr. Williams developed a reputation as an effective manager and was well known for his insistence that taxi drivers operate vehicles that are clean, safe, and otherwise in full compliance with taxi regulations. He is largely credited with removing unsafe and unsightly vehicles from Newark's taxi fleet.

While on police force, Mr. Williams found the Explorer Scout Unit of the Newark Police Department and served as a member and past president of the Bronze Shields Police Officers Association.

Mr. Williams retired from the Newark Police Department in 1990. Following his retirement, he was tapped by Newark Mayor Sharpe James to head the city's Taxicab Division, a position that he still holds. As head of the Taxicab Division, Mr. Williams, who Chairs a Commission with 5 members and a staff of 9, has been successful in improving the taxi industry in that city and has won the respect and confidence of taxi drivers and their representative organizations throughout the city. One of the achievements that Mr. Williams is proudest of was the reduction of annual insurance premiums for taxi drivers from $9500 to $3300 annually. He was also instrumental in addressing corruption and rules violations by unscrupulous taxi company owners.

Mr. Williams is an active member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Taxicab Regulators, an organization that represents the heads of taxi divisions throughout the world. He has been a board member since 1985 and was recently appointed to the committee that will organize IATR's upcoming annual convention. Mr. Williams is well respected among his peers in the IATR, especially for the passion displays on the issue of taxi driver safety.

Mr. Williams is married to Ruby Williams, his wife of 41 years. They have four offspring all of whom reside in the Newark, New Jersey area.