Wednesday May 14, 2025
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Over 50,000 Join Call for Florida to Protect Uber

Over 50,000 Join Call for Florida to Protect Uber

Belén Marty by Belén Marty
May 13, 2015
in Free Markets, News, North America, Technology, United States
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp

EspañolUber, the smartphone-based premium taxi service, is seeking for the Florida legislature to include it in June’s special session and pass legislation concerning peer-to-peer taxi applications.

The San Francisco-based company has launched a petition on its website to collect users’ signatures in favor of pressing ahead with legislation, which before recess was considering exemptions for Uber from insurance and tax regulations facing other taxi and limousine services.

RelatedArticles

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024
Uber is worth an estimated US$50 billion.
Uber is worth an estimated US$50 billion. (@infobaeamerica)

However, it’s possible that the legislature will kick the exemption for the transportation network company (TNC) into the long grass, as the principal priority of the forthcoming sessions is to negotiate the state budget.

“Although the Florida Legislature adjourned this session without passing ridesharing legislation, they still have an opportunity in the coming weeks to get it done,” the firm said on its webpage.

Katie Betta, spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, said last Wednesday that the body was yet to receive formal petitions about adding topics to the special session in June.

Uber has operated in Florida for a little over a year, and has already made 6 million journeys across the Sunshine State. According to company estimates, Uber has earned its Florida drivers over US$50 million, and is set to earn nearly $2 billion in the state by the end of 2020. The service has reportedly created 18,000 jobs, set to rise to 130,000 within a little over five years’ time.

“If a sensible, modern regulatory framework is passed, it would enable Uber to create more than 100,000 new job opportunities for Floridians in the coming years while continuing to connect millions of people to safe, reliable rides at the touch of a button,” the petition argues.

Uber is inviting Floridians to call on Governor Rick Scott, House Speaker Crisafulli, and Gardiner to take up TNC legislation in the special session.

As of Wednesday, May 13, the petition had already surpassed its initial objective of 50,000 signatories, with the website’s counter registering 58,675 supporters.

Ana Olema, a subscriber to the application in Miami, said that Uber was an example of the advantages that the free market and competition could bring to consumers.

“It’s created hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs for small-business owners, and lowered prices considerably for users. If some corrupt politicians want to maintain the taxi monopoly and mafia in Florida, we should say a resounding ‘no,'” Olema told the PanAm Post.

Road Rage

Roger Chapin, vice president of Mears Transportations — a group that offers a limousine, taxi, and van service for airport transfers, among other services — argued that Uber was resisting attempts by local authorities to enforce permit requirements, insurance verification, and background checks.

“Rather than working with local officials and regulators to resolve these issues, Uber hired a cabal of lobbyists and attempted to pass statewide legislation that would preempt local ordinances,” Chapin claimed on the Florida Taxicab Association‘s blog on May 6.

He argued that Uber is pressuring legislators to give it “free reign” across the state, and will only agree to self-regulation of its operations. He also alleged that the firm had backed “punitive measures” to defund public projects in local areas that backed greater regulation of TNCs.

Chapin also emphasized that Uber had said nothing about the unemployment that its service could allegedly cause among regulated taxi drivers, and accused the company of “brinkmanship” in threatening to withdraw the app from regulated areas.

“The real question is, if the Legislature passes any law that deviates from Uber’s business model, will Uber follow the law then? I think we know the answer,” he concluded.

Translated by Laurie Blair.

Tags: floridauber
Belén Marty

Belén Marty

Belén Marty is the Libertarian Latina, a journalist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has lived in Guatemala, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States and is a former candidate for local office with Argentina's Libertarian Party. Follow @BelenMarty.

Related Posts

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting
Ideology

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving
Culture

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024
These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela
Elections

These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela

November 27, 2024
Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay
Elections

Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay

November 24, 2024
Vicky Dávila Runs for President: Could She Be the Outsider to Unite the Anti-Petro Movement?
Colombia

Vicky Dávila Runs for President: Could She Be the Outsider to Unite the Anti-Petro Movement?

November 15, 2024
The Democratic campaign organized celebrity concerts in the seven key states, all of which they ended up losing. (EFE)
Columnists

The Only Thing Kamala Harris Won in the Election: Debt and Hollywood’s Useless Support

November 12, 2024
Next Post
Whistleblower: Infrastructure Planning Bites the Dust in Caracas

Whistleblower: Infrastructure Planning Bites the Dust in Caracas

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.