Companies like Uber and Lyft have had a good ride (literally and figuratively) in many areas of the country, but their glory days could be over if the left-wing government in New York City has its way.
It’s just too bad that New York, the largest city in the United States, has to damage an innovative idea like ride sharing by seeking to control it.
The New York City Council voted to put a cap on the number of local ride-sharing service drivers for one year, and during that time period, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will study the effects of ride-sharing services on New York City.
With a warm and fuzzy name like “TLC,” some unsuspecting people might assume the organization has honorable intentions. But the group is up to no good.
At the same time the City Council voted to limit the number of drivers, they also voted to dictate a minimum pay wage for drivers who work for ride-sharing services.
Mayor Bill de Blasio responded in a way that anyone who pays attention to his actions could have predicted. He applauded the vote by the council while speaking out against the “unchecked growth” of ride services. (Who has the freedom and authorization to “check” their growth anyway? Isn’t this a free country where people are free to engage in business activity?)
“Our city is directly confronting a crisis that is driving working New Yorkers into poverty and our streets into gridlock,” de Blasio claimed as he came out against ride-sharing services. “The unchecked growth of app-based for-hire vehicle companies has demanded action, and now we have it.”
Just how significant are ride-sharing services in New York? According to a study by the TLC, there are 80,000 vehicles in New York City that are app-based ride services. Drivers in those vehicles provide 17 million rides per month in the city.
The outcome of the vote by the city council could be higher prices for Uber and Lyft rides in a city where just about everything is already astronomically expensive.
Uber and Lyft made comments strongly disagreeing with the New York vote.
“The City’s 12-month pause on new vehicle licenses will threaten one of the few reliable transportation options while doing nothing to fix the subways or ease congestion,” Uber said in a statement. “We take [Council Speaker Corey Johnson] at his word that the pause is not intended to reduce service for New Yorkers and we trust that he will hold the TLC accountable, ensuring that no New Yorker is left stranded.”
Lyft public policy vice president Joseph Okpaku had a similar take.
“These sweeping cuts to transportation will bring New Yorkers back to an era of struggling to get a ride, particularly for communities of color and in the outer boroughs,” he said. “We will never stop working to ensure New Yorkers have access to reliable and affordable transportation in every borough.”
What’s happening with ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft might not just be happening to New York City. In fact, the same type of thing might happen soon in other areas throughout the United States. For now, riders better enjoy their less expensive Uber rides before the prices skyrocket, if what just happened in New York City sets a precedent. But it seems like the drastic measure by the leadership in New York was unnecessary.
~ Conservative Zone
CUOMO AND De BLASIO BOTH ARE DESTROYING NEW YORK, STATE AND NEW YORK CITY WITH THEIR DICTATING AGAIN ETC. BY TELLING BUSINESS HOW TO RUN AND PUTTING A BERDEN ON COMMUTERS TO AND FROM IN THE CONGESTED CITY OF NEW YORK AND IT’S SQUIRMING WITH COMMUTERS EVERY DAY!! WHAT A SHAME!? THAT’S BAD FOR ALL BUSINESS’S IN THE CITY BECAUSE IF PEOPLE CAN’T MOVE BUSINESS SUFFER’S AND STATE AND CITY COFFER’S SUFFER!!? (DAH)
New York City should be declared a communist country.
The Liberals Want Or control Everything Just Like Hitler and Stalin Did Any Thing That Will Cut Taxes Or Save People Money From Being Over Taxed On a Service They Want To Ban Until They can Figure Out A Over Tax It
Two Italians that should be ashamed of themselves. Christopher Columbus is turning in his grave. Traitors, unpatriotic Americans, both of them.