>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE,
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK,
THIS IS OCTOBER 2019, OUR
BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE ARE COMING
BACK TO ORDER, TO PROCEED WITH
BUSINESS.
WE HAVE THREE HOURS THIS
MORNING, WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER,
AND TALKED ABOUT AS DAUGHTERS,
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND ALSO OUR
FIRST INFORMATION ABOUT TMC'S,
AND THIS AFTERNOON WE ARE GOING
TO BE FOCUSING ON THE WORKERS
ISSUE AND THE TMC PROJECT WHAT
KIND OF PROTECTION THAT CAN
PROVIDE WORKERS, SO THAT IS
GOING TO BE OUR MAIN FOCUS THIS
AFTERNOON. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
FOR MY COLLEAGUES, AND FOR THE
RECORD, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT
TNC'S, AND ITEM NUMBER TWO ON
THE TAX-FREE REDUCTION, AND
SPENDING RESOLUTION, THERE WAS
A CORRECTION AT COUNSEL CENTRAL
STAFF, AND AMY GORE MENTIONED
THAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT,
EARLIER TODAY.
AND SO THAT CHART HAS BEEN
UPDATED TO ACCURATELY REFLECT
THE ESTIMATED REVENUES, WITH
THE PROPOSED .82 TAX OPTION.
SO, THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
THANK YOU FOR CATCHING THAT SO
EARLY, AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE
US AN UPDATED CHART.
OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE WITH THE TNC'S, WE
WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, AS
WE MENTIONED EARLIER, AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR COMING,
AND JUST A REMINDER, ONCE
AGAIN.
OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY, PUBLIC
COMMENT, PUBLIC MEETING, THE
NEXT BIG ONE WILL BE THIS
UPCOMING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd
AT 5:30 IN CHAMBERS.
EVERYBODY IS WELCOME, AND
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK UNLESS YOU ARE IN A
GROUP, AND WE WILL HAVE A FIVE-
MINUTE TOTAL.
OKAY, SO LET'S GET GOING HERE,
WE HAVE PROTECTIONS AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE, ARE YOU AND
LISA GOING TO TAKE IT?
>> I AM KARINA BULL, WITH
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> NICE TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> I WILL LEAD, GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE.
AS NOTED, THE NEXT ROUND OF
TODAY'S DISCUSSION WILL
CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR'S
SUITE OF PROPOSALS, RELATED TO
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
COMPANIES, REFERRED TO AS TNC.
THE MAYOR HAS TRANSMITTED FIVE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOR THE
COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
EARLIER TODAY, AMY GORE, FROM
CENTRAL STAFF DISCUSSED AN
ORDINANCE DISCUSSING EXISTING
TNC LICENSING FEES, A NEW TAX
ON TNC RIDES, AND PRIORITIES
REVENUE DONATED BY THE NEW TAX.
THE FOCUS NOW IS ON TWO PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH WORKER PROTECTIONS
FOR TNC DRIVERS.
THE TNC MINIMUM COMPENSATION
ORDINANCE, AND THE TNC
DEACTIVATION RIGHTS ORDINANCE.
I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUES FACING
TNC DRIVERS, AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PROPOSALS, AND IDENTIFYING
ISSUES FOR POSSIBLE POLICY
CONSIDERATION.
FOR REFERENCE, THERE IS A
BUDGET DELIBERATION PAPER, AND
THE TEXT OF THE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ON THE AGENDA, AND
THEN THERE IS THIS SLIDE DECK,
TO PROVIDE SOME VISUAL FLAIR
FOR THE DISCUSSION.
>> AND AS YOU ARE GOING TO
VISUAL FLAIR, I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBER LORENA GONZALES
AND COUNCILMEMBER ABEL PACHECO
. THANK YOU.
GIVE US A FLARE.
>> THERE IT IS, SO, FIRST PART
OF THE DISCUSSION IS REGARDING
THE TNC MINIMUM COMPENSATION
ORDINANCE.
BACKGROUND FOR THIS LEGISLATION
IS THAT THE TNC'S RELY ON A
BUSINESS MODEL THAT CLASSIFIES
DRIVERS AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS.
WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOT
SUBJECT TO THE PROTECTIONS OF
SEATTLE'S MINIMUM WAGE, AND
OTHER WORK PLACE LAWS.
WHICH INCLUDE PROTECTIONS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, WAGE
AND HOUR REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS
MILITARIES AND REST BREAKS, AND
REIMBURSEMENT FOR OTHER
EXPENSES, THEY ALSO DO NOT
RECEIVE WORKER BENEFITS, LIKE
BASICALLY, WORKERS
COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, AND
THEY ALSO HAVE TO PAY THEIR OWN
EQUIVALENT OF PAYROLL TAXES.
THERE WAS MORE BACKGROUND,
THERE WAS A STUDY LAST YEAR BY
THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE
THAT SAID THAT NATIONWIDE, UBER
DRIVERS EARN ABOUT AN AVERAGE
OF $11.77, AFTER DEDUCTING UBER
FEES, AND VEHICLE EXPENSES.
THAT WENT DOWN TO $10.87, WHEN
ALSO DEDUCTING THE EQUIVALENT
OF PAYROLL TAXES, AND THEN
LANDED AT $9.21 AN HOUR, AFTER
DEDUCTING AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT
FOR THE COST OF A MOTIVE MODEST
BENEFITS PACKAGE.
SO, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IS ON THE NEED TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE GAPS, AND
IT DOES SO THROUGH AN
EVALUATION PROCESS TO DEVELOP A
MINIMUM COMPENSATION STANDARD
FOR TNC DRIVERS.
AND THEN, THE SECOND PIECE IS A
REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAYOR TO
TRANSMIT LEGISLATION TO
RECOMMEND IMPLEMENTATION OF A
MINIMUM COMPENSATION STANDARD.
FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS, THE
GOALPOST IS FOR IT TO BE
COMPLETED BY MARCH 31st OF NEXT
YEAR.
FINANCE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES WOULD CONDUCT THE
STUDY, AND COORDINATION WITH
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
AND, THERE WOULD BE A
REQUIREMENT TO LOOK AT A RANGE
OF DATA SOURCES, AND ENGAGE
WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND TO
EVENTUALLY COME UP WITH A
RECOMMENDATION FOR A MINIMUM
COMPENSATION STANDARD, THAT
WOULD BE COMPRISED OF AT LEAST
THE SEATTLE MINIMUM WAGE FOR
LARGE EMPLOYERS, WHICH NEXT
YEAR WILL BE $60.39.
AND THAT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED
BY REASONABLE EXPENSES, WHICH
WOULD BE COMPRISED OF MILEAGE
COST, THAT IS A VEHICLE
EXPENSES, AND ALSO NON-MILEAGE
COST, WHICH WOULD BE PAYMENT
FOR THINGS SUCH AS PAYROLL
TAXES, THE EQUIVALENT OF SICK
LEAVE, FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE,
AND SOME DIFFERENT KINDS OF
INSURANCE.
FAS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO
CONSIDER PAYMENT FOR THREE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIME, THAT
ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A TNC
RIGHT, THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE
AVAILABLE TIME, DISPATCH TIME,
AND PASSENGER PLATFORM TIME,
BASICALLY THAT ENCOMPASSES THE
TIME THAT A TMC DRIVER IS
WAITING FOR A RIDE, DRIVING TO
A RIGHT TO PICK UP A PASSENGER,
AND THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE
PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE.
THE CONTENT OF THE STUDY, AS I
ALREADY MENTIONED WOULD INCLUDE
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, THE
ORDINANCE DOES LAYOUT-- OR
LEGISLATION LAYS OUT POSSIBLE
12 AREAS OF EVALUATION.
AND PERMITS FAS TO COMMIT WITH
AN ACADEMIC OR POLICY
ORGANIZATION FOR PART OF THE
STUDY, THE EXECUTIVE ALSO SAYS
THAT THERE ARE PLANS TO PARTNER
WITH DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR OUTREACH.
THE FUTURE LEGISLATION WOULD
NEED TO BE TRANSMITTED BY ME,
FIRST, BY NEXT YEAR.
THERE IS NO STATED DATE FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
LEGISLATION, BUT THE EXECUTIVES
PUBLIC MATERIALS HAVE INDICATED
JULY 1 AS A GOALPOST.
ANY QUESTIONS, THUS FAR?
>> ARE--
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I JUST SORT OF NEED TO KNOW
WHEN YOU ARE SWITCHING, I CAN
WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE
COMPENSATION PIECE, WE AREN'T
GOING TO DEACTIVATION?
>> THERE ARE TWO ISSUES FOR
IDENTIFICATION WITH A MINIMUM
COMPENSATION.
>> JUST KEEP GOING--
>> SO, IN THE AREAS OF
EVALUATION, THERE LEGISLATION
SUGGESTS 12 POSSIBLE AREAS THAT
ARE NOT MANDATED, AND IT IS NOT
AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, THERE WAS
AN ISSUE I.D., THAT THERE COULD
BE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT
SIGNALS THE COUNCILS INTENT TO
FOCUS ON SOMETHING ALONG THE
LINES OF THE TNC FEES THAT ARE
APPLIED TO EVERY RIDE OF A
DRIVER, THE BUSINESS MODEL IS
PREMISED UPON THE TNC'S
SUBTRACTING CERTAIN AMOUNTS
FROM THE PASSENGER FAIR, AND
THAT COULD INCLUDE-- IT IS A
SERVICE FEE,, COMMISSIONS,
THERE COULD BE A CANCELLATION
FEE IF THAT HAPPENS, SO THE
STUDY-- IF THIS WAS IDENTIFIED
BY THE LEGISLATION, COULD BE
LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE
PASSENGER FAIR OUT OF THAT
AMOUNT, WHAT DOES THE DRIVER
EARN, AND WHAT DOES THE DNC
EARN TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPLETE
PICTURE OF INFORMATION TO HELP
INFORM THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION?
THE NEXT ITEM THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED AS A TECHNICAL
ISSUE, AND IN THIS LEGISLATION,
THE CONCEPT OF DISPATCH
PLATFORM TIME IS CRITICAL TO
THE EVALUATION, IT IS NOT
DEFINED IN THIS LEGISLATION,
THE DEFINITION WOULD NOT NEED
TO BE REINVENTED, OR INVENTED,
IT JUST COULD BE PORTED OVER
FROM THE OTHER ORDINANCE,
REGARDING DRIVER DEACTIVATION
RIGHTS, SO IT IS MORE OF A
TECHNICAL ISSUE.
>> OKAY.
>> PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANKS FOR THAT OVERVIEW
COULD, KATRINA.
I AM SAYING P1 AND P2 IS THAT
THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY?
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT
COMPLEX WORK THAT THE CITY WILL
UNDERTAKE.
GOOD WORK, BUT COMPLEX, I
THINK.
BECAUSE-- WELL, LET ME ASK YOU
A DIRECT QUESTION, DO WE THINK
WE HAVE FROM THE TNC'S, THE
INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
GET NOW, EITHER PUBLICLY, OR
THROUGH DIRECT CONTRACTUAL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, THE
INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DO
THIS WORK?
OR DO WE STILL NEED TO GET
INFORMATION FROM THEM, TO BE
ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE DRIVER
COMPENSATION?
>> MY SON SAYS THE LETTER,
WHERE MORE INFORMATION WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT
EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF
INFORMATION WOULD NEED TO BE
GATHERED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER
CITIES THAT HAVE COLLECTED THIS
INFORMATION, AND THAT
INFORMATION COULD BE WEIGHTED
TO APPLY TO THE SIZE OF
SEATTLE, THE NUMBER OF TRIPS
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SEATTLE,
NEW YORK CITY HAS DEVELOPED
THEIR OWN MINIMUM COMPENSATION
STANDARD, AND SO, THEY HAVE A
LENGTHY REPORT, SO, THEY HAVE
ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.
AND SO, THAT COULD PROVIDE A
BASELINE OF INFORMATION, I AM
SENSING.
>> SO, THE REASON I ASK IS JUST
TO BE TRANSPARENT, AND I LIKE
THE PACKAGE THAT CAME TO US,
FROM THE MAYOR, AND WE ARE
TRYING TO DIGEST IT THROUGH THE
BUDGET, BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS
IS-- AS I SAID, DURING THE
EARLIER SESSIONS, IT HAS BEEN
TOUGH GETTING INFORMATION FROM
THE TNC'S, AND WE ARE NOW
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MINIMUM
COMPENSATION, AS WE SHOULD.
AS I LOOK FORWARD TO.
BUT STILL, ALMOST A DELAY
TACTIC, AS WE ARE RELYING-- ONE
APPROACH COULD HAVE BEEN, WE
JUST SAID-- WE JUST SAY THAT
EVEN THESE DRIVERS CAN SET A
MINIMUM WAGE FOR THESE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
EACH INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
WILL MAKE 16, 239 AN HOUR.
AND THEN THE ONUS IS ON THE
DRIVER TO SAY WHY DIDN'T-- COST
EVERYTHING ELSE AND THAT IS
GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR US
TO.
BUT THAT WAS AN APPROACH I
CONSIDERED SOME TIME AGO, WE
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE
TARGET IS, TO SAY HERE IT IS.
ON THE P1 P2, P3 MODEL WHEN
DRIVERS ARE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE
PLATFORMS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH ONES ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO
PAY?
SAY THEY ARE DRIVING FOR UBER
RIDE LIFT, SO WHO'S DIME ARE
THEY ON, SO TO SPEAK?
IT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE
COMPLEX ON GETTING THIS
INFORMATION.
IT CAN BE DONE, WITH SOME
COOPERATION, BUT, I JUST WANTED
TO KNOW, AND YOU TOLD ME THE
ANSWERS WHETHER WE HAD THE
EXISTING INFORMATION HOW TO
FIGURE THIS STUFF OUT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GOING
TO NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION
FROM THE TNC'S.
>> YES, THERE IS DIFFERENT THAN
FROM APPROACH TO THE DRIVERS IN
NEW YORK CITY, WHAT THEY CALL A
UTILIZATION RATE, AND THAT
UTILIZATION RATE REFERS TO THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE DRIVER
HAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, AND
SO, IF THEY ARE, EVERY HOUR 30
MINUTES WITH A PASSENGER IN
THEIR CAR, THE UTILIZATION RATE
WOULD BE 50%, AND SO WHEN A
DRIVER PICKS UP A PASSENGER,
THEN WHATEVER PLATFORM IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT RIDE WOULD
END OF PAYING FOR THAT
AVAILABLE TIME, THE P1 TIME,
AND THEN THE UTILIZATION RATE
WOULD HELP TO INFORM WHAT THE
PAYMENT WOULD NEED TO BE FOR
THE DRIVER.
THERE'S DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT
METHODS OF GOING ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING
THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED OF THE
LEGISLATION FOR THE EVALUATION
TO THINK ABOUT.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION THAT IS
RELATES TO FEES AND COSTS HERE,
BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO WHAT THE
DRIVER GETS?
AND THAT SEARCH PRICING?
THERE'S TIMES WHEN, AS WE ALL
KNOW, WHEN THE COST OF A RIGHT
IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN
OTHER TIMES, AND DOES THE
DRIVER GET ANY OF THAT?
OR DOES IT ALL GO TO THE
COMPANY?
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT
TO ME THAT IF THE DRIVER IS
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC,
CAN'T GET TO PICK UP THE
PASSENGER, THAT THE COMPANY IS
GETTING THE ADDITIONAL-- THE
SURGE PRICES CONTRASTED TO
GOING INTO THE DRIVER'S POCKET.
>> I DON'T HAVE A SOLID ANSWER
FOR THAT, BUT MY KNOWLEDGE IS
THAT THE TNC'S ARE CHARGING A
SERVICE FEE, AND A COMMISSION
ON EVERY FAIR, AND SO, IF THE
COMMISSION IS CONSISTENTLY A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, THAT IS
33%, THEN MY SENSE WOULD BE, IF
THE PASSENGER IS PAYING MORE,
THAN THE DRIVER WOULD GET-- YOU
KNOW, WOULD HAVE THE BALANCE OF
THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT THE CUSTOMER IS PAYING, I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS ACTUALLY
THE CASE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED IN
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AS AN
AREA OF EVALUATION.
I THINK IT FALLS INTO THE
LANGUAGE OF TNC INCENTIVES, IF
THERE IS AN INTEREST IN MAKING
SURE THAT TNC INCENTIVES
INCLUDE SEARCH PRICING, THAT
COULD BE ADDED TO THE
LEGISLATION AS WELL, AS A
PARENTHETICAL.
>> ONE-- THANK YOU, ONE ISSUE
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AS
WELL, AND I RAISE THIS
PUBLICLY, IS I THINK THIS IS
GREAT WORK WE ARE LOOKING INTO
THE DRIVER MINIMUM COMPENSATIN
FOR THE TNC'S.
ALL OF THIS WORK WE ARE DOING
WILL STILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON
LEGACY TAXI DRIVERS, AND FOR
HIRE DRIVERS.
THIS ABUNDANT OF VEHICLES, ON
THE STREETS, TRANSPORTING
PEOPLE HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT--
THAT IS WHY THIS MORNING I
BROUGHT UP THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS VOUCHER CONCEPT.
AND SO, IN THIS WORK-- THIS
BODY OF WORK, ONE OF THE IDEAS
I HAVE JUST EXPLORED IS HOW IT
EVEN AFFECTS THE LEGACY TAXI
DRIVERS AS WELL.
THEY ARE STILL COMPETING, THEY
ARE STILL IN THE SAME SPACE, AND
AGAIN, EVEN FROM THE TAXI
DRIVERS, WE ARE GETTING
CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON WHAT
THEY ARE MAKING.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK ON
THE TNC DRIVERS, AND RIGHTFULLY
SO, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF
TAXI DRIVERS OUT THERE AS WELL,
THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE A
DECENT WAGE.
>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.
>> THE NEXT ORDINANCE IS THE
TNC DRIVER DEACTIVATION
ORDINANCE.
AS BACKGROUND, LET'S MOVE
AHEAD, THERE IT IS.
AS BACKGROUND FOR THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION, BOTH GOOBER AND
LIVED, THE TWO LARGEST TNC'S,
OPERATING IN SEATTLE, REQUIRE
DRIVERS TO SIGN A MANDATORY
ARBITRATION AGREEMENT.
AS A TERM OF SERVICE, AND, WHEN
THIS IS ASSIGNED, IT MEANS THAT
THE DRIVER WAVES RIGHTS TO A
DISPUTE IN A COURT OF LAW.
THIS KIND OF MANDATORY
ARBITRATION AGREEMENT IS
BECOMING MORE COMMON IN
EMPLOYMENT AND CONSUMER
CONTRACTS, IT HAS INCREASED,
FROM 1992 TO 2%, TO OVER 55% OF
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, IN THAT
27 YEAR PERIOD, THERE ARE A
RANGE OF CONSEQUENCES FROM
MANDATORY ARBITRATION
AGREEMENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN
STUDIES BY ECONOMIC POLICY
INSTITUTE, AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHOW THAT
WHEN WORKERS ARE ENGAGED IN
PRIVATE ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS,
THERE ARE FEWER INSTANCES OF
WORKERS WINNING THOSE CASES,
THERE ARE LOWER DAMAGES THAN IN
A COURT OF LAW, AND BECAUSE OF
THIS, FEWER FILINGS.
SO, AGAIN, THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL
FOR THIS LEGISLATION, PREMISED
ON ANOTHER EXIGENT NEED IS
LEGISLATION THAT PROPOSES A
SEPARATE PROCESS FOR TNC
DRIVERS TO CHALLENGE
DEACTIVATION.
SO, RIGHT NOW, IF A DRIVER WAS
DEACTIVATED AND FELT IT WAS
UNFAIR, IT WOULD NEED TO GO TO
PRIVATE ARBITRATION, THIS
SEPARATE PROCESS CONSISTS OF
THREE PIECES, DEACTIVATION
RIGHTS, A DEACTIVATION APPEALS
PANEL, AND A DRIVER RESOLUTIONS
CENTER.
SO, FOR THE DEACTIVATION
RIGHTS, IT ESTABLISHES FOR
RIGHTS, DRIVERS CAN NOT BE
SUBJECTED TO WHAT IS CALLED AN
UNWARRANTED DEACTIVATION.
THE TMC'S ARE REQUIRED TO
PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICES TO THE
DRIVERS, BEFORE THE
DEACTIVATION, AND UPON
DEACTIVATION.
DRIVERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
CHALLENGE ALL PERMANENT, AND
TEMPORARY DEACTIVATION'S.
SUBJECT TO SOME ELIGIBILITY
STANDARDS WE CAN DISCUSS LATER.
AND THERE IS A RIGHT TO
REPRESENTATION AT ANY
DEACTIVATION CHALLENGE.
AND THAT APPLIES TO BOTH A
PRIVATE ARBITRATION, AND ONE
THAT WOULD HAPPEN VIA THE DRIVER
DEACTIVATION APPEALS PANEL
ARBITRATION PROCESS.
DRIVERS SUBJECT TO SOME
DIFFERENT CRITERIA WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE FREE
REPRESENTATION FROM THE DRIVER
RESOLUTIONS CENTER.
FOR THEIR DEACTIVATION
CHALLENGES.
THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES A
DEACTIVATION APPEALS PANEL
ARBITRATION PROCESS, WHICH
WOULD BE VOLUNTARY FOR THE
TNC'S, AND TNC DRIVERS, WHICH
MEANS THAT THE TNC AND TNC
DRIVERS BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT
COULD USE THIS PANEL
ARBITRATION PROCESS, INSTEAD OF
A PRIVATE ARBITRATION.
IT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED, IT
WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY BOTH
AGREED TO AS A DIFFERENT PATH.
THE PANEL ARBITRATION WOULD
RESULT IN A DECISION THAT IS
FINAL, AND BINDING.
THAT OFFERS LEGAL, AND
EQUITABLE RELIEF TO THE DRIVER,
THAT MEANS THAT A DRIVER COULD
BE AWARDED DOUBLE THE AMOUNT
OWED, DOUBLE DAMAGES, AND ALSO
COULD HAVE SOMETHIG LIKE
REINSTATEMENT BE ORDERED.
THE PROCESS HAPPENS ALONG A
PRESCRIBED TIMELINE, AND THAT
COULD BE AS LITTLE AS 32 DAYS,
OR UP TO 107 DAYS.
IN CONTRAST TO PRIVATE
ARBITRATION, THAT IS A MUCH
QUICKER PROCESS, A PRIVATE
ARBITRATION, UNDER THE AMERICAN
ARBITRATION ACID ASSOCIATION
RULES, WHICH IS WHAT BOTH
GOOBER AND LEFTY USE CURRENTLY,
IT WOULD TAKE 75 DAYS JUST TO
GET TO A POINT WHERE A HEARING
DATE WOULD BE SCHEDULED.
THE COST FOR THIS PROCESS WOULD
BE NOTHING TO THE DRIVER.
IN THE TNC, THE DRIVER
RESOLUTIONS CENTER WHICH WE
WILL TALK ABOUT LATER, WILL
EACH PAY HALF OF THE COST OF A
MUTUAL ARBITRATOR.
THE TNC WOULD PAY FULL COST, IF
THE DRIVER IS NOT REPRESENTED
BY THE DRIVER RESOLUTIONS
CENTER.
AND PART OF THIS IDEA FOR THE
PANEL ARBITRATION PROCESS IS
THAT IT WOULD CONSIST OF A
MUTUAL ARBITRATOR, AND ON THE
PANEL THERE WOULD ALSO BE WHAT
IS CALLED A PANEL PARTISAN
MEMBER.
EACH OF THESE MEMBERS WOULD BE
REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF THE
TNC, OR THE DRIVER, AND THE
CITY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE
COST OF THESE PARTISAN PANEL
MEMBERS.
LAST, THE DRIVER RESOLUTIONS
CENTER IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT
THE CITY WOULD CONTRACT WITH,
IT WOULD BE A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT THE CITY
WOULD CONTRACT WITH, FOR
OUTREACH, CONSULTATION, AND
REPRESENTATION OF DRIVERS.
THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT IT
BE NONPROFIT, AND AFFILIATED
WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH WORKERS
AND GRIEVANCES, AND IS NOT
FUNDED, OR EXCESSIVELY
CONTROLLED BY A TNC.
SO, NEXT, THERE ARE SEVEN
ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
FOR THE COUNCIL'S
CONSIDERATION, AS A POSSIBLE
POLICY ISSUES.
THE FIRST ONE IS REGARDING
RULEMAKING--
>> SO SORRY, I-- I WOULD RATHER-
- I DON'T KNOW IF I FOLLOW YOUR
LEAD, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE ORDINANCE OVERALL, I
DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE
ADDRESSED IN THE ISSUES.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
IS WE ARE HAVING TO BASICALLY
HAVE THIS COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
ON THIS LEGISLATION, DURING
BUDGET, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT A
LITTLE BIT.
SO I'M SORRY TO POKE AROUND ON
THIS STUFF, BUT WE HAVE TO DO
IT, BECAUSE SOMEONE INSISTED
THAT IT BE DONE ON THE FULL
BUDGET PROCESS, I CAN'T
REMEMBER--
>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME.
I CAN PULL IT UP HERE FOR YOU
IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> SO, IF I UNDERSTAND THE
ARBITRATION PROCESS, IT IS
VOLUNTARY, SO IF I AM A DRIVER,
AND I SAY, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO
USE AS THE VOLUNTARY
ARBITRATION PROCESS, WITH THIS
DRIVERS RESOLUTION CENTER, BUT
THE TNC SAYS NO, I DISAGREE,
THEN THE DRIVER DOESN'T GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT RIGHT?
BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE VOLUNTARY
BY BOTH SIDES, I'M ASSUMING
THAT'S THE WAY THE LEGISLATION
WORKS?
>> YOU ARE CRACKED, THE WAY
THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS SET UP
IS THAT THE DRIVER STILL COULD
HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER TO
REPRESENT THEM AT A PRIVATE
ARBITRATION.
SO, EVEN-- SO, ONE OF THE
RIGHTS THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY
THE LAW WOULD BE THE RIGHT TO
REPRESENTATION BY THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, IN EITHER A
PRIVATE ARBITRATION, OR THIS
PANEL ARBITRATION PROCESS.
>> OKAY, SO THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER IS MORE THAN
JUST A FORUM TO HEAR AND
ARBITRATION, THEY ALSO ASSIGN
REPRESENTATIVES TO BE THAT
PERSON-- SHOULD THE DNC NOT
CHOOSE TO USE THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER.
SO IS THERE ANY THOUGHT GIVEN
TO MAKING THE DRIVER RESOLUTION
CENTER MANDATORY?
THAT GOOBER, OR LIFT, OR ANY
TNC THEY JUST-- THIS IS THE
ONLY FORM WITH WHICH TO GO?
>> WELL, GIVEN THAT THE DRIVERS
HAVE ENTERED INTO A TERMS OF
SERVICE WITH THESE TNC'S SAYING
THAT THEY AGREE TO PRIVATE
ARBITRATION, IT MAKES SENSE
FOR THIS TO BE A VOLUNTARY
PROCESS, BECAUSE THE DRIVERS
HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO PURSUE
PRIVATE ARBITRATION WHEN THEY
BECOME A DRIVER.
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO SUPERSEDE THAT
CONTRACT ON ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN
THE DRIVER AND THE TNC, SO
THAT'S-- CAN'T WE ESTABLISH A
LEGAL FRAMEWORK BY WHICH TNC
OPERATE?
THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING?
CAN'T WE SAY ALL DRIVER
DISPUTES ARE HANDLED IN THIS
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER?
ISN'T THAT A POSSIBILITY?
>> WELL, THE SUPREME COURT OF
THE UNITED STATES HAS FAVORS
MANDATORY ARBITRATION
AGREEMENT.
THEY-- THERE WAS AN EPIC SYSTEM
SUPREME COURT CASE, THAT JUST
ABOLISHED RESPECT FOR MANDATORY
ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS, THAT
SAYS--
>> WE ARE MAKING IT MANDATORY.
NO, WE ARE MAKING IT MANDATORY.
WE ARE NOT AT ALL DEMANDING
FROM THE SUPREME COURT'S
DECISION, WE ARE SAYING IT'S
MANDATORY, JUST A FORM AS A
DRIVERS RESOLUTION CENTER.
ú>> SO WHAT THE SUPREME COURT I
SAYING IS THAT THE PRIVATE
EMPLOYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE
IT MANDATORY, AND IF A WORKER,
OR CONSUMER AGREES TO THAT,
THERE IS NO DEVIATION FROM IT.
>> I AM NOT GETTING IT.
SO, IN THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE-- ARE YOU SAYING THAT-- AND
I DON'T, I'M NOT-- PERHAPS I'M
NOT AS INFORMED AS YOU ARE.
SO, WE CAN'T DICTATE THE FORM?
WE ARE NOT DEVIATING FROM
MANDATORY ARBITRATION, WE ARE
JUST DICTATING THE FORUM WHICH
IS OUR FORUM.
>> SO UNDER THE TERMS OF THE
AGREEMENT THAT DRIVERS SIDE,
WHEN THEY ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS
WITH GOOBER AND LEFT, THEY ARE
AGREEING TO THE EVERYTHING OF
AN ARBITRATION.
THEY ARE AGREEING TO THE FORUM,
AND THE PROCESS THAT IS LAID
OUT BY THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION
ASSOCIATION RULES, AND WHAT THE
SUPREME COURT HAS SAID IS THAT
THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED.
AND SO WHAT THIS LAW DOES IS
SET UP A SEPARATE PROCESS.
THAT WOULD BE QUICKER FOR THE
DRIVERS AND LESS EXPENSIVE FOR
THE DRIVERS, BECAUSE IT
WOULDN'T BE PAYING ANYTHING AND
ALSO IT WOULDN'T BE PAYING
ANYTHING FOR THE TMC'S A MUTUAL
ARBITRATOR THAT WOULD BE VETTED
AND CONTRACTED BY THE CITY.
SO IT HAS GOT SOME COMPONENTS
IN PLACE THAT WOULD PROTECT THE
DRIVER AND PROVIDE A FAIR
PROCESS, AND WOULD APPARENTLY
SEEM TO BENEFIT ALL PARTIES.
>> AND SO WHERE'S THE $3.5
MILLION?
WHERE IS THAT MONEY?
WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THAT
AMOUNT, THAT SEEMS HIGH FOR A
CENTER FOR ONE YEAR.
>> SO THIS RESOLUTION THAT THE
MAYOR PROPOSED HAS UP TO $3.5
MILLION TO FUND THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER AND ANY OF
THE WORK THAT THE CITY WOULD
NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO
ADMINISTER THESE WORKER RIGHTS,
SO THAT MIGHT INCLUDE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS, WHEN THE
MINIMUM-- IF THE MINIMUM
COMPENSATION STANDARD IS PASSED
BY COUNSEL, IF FAS NEEDS ANY
DATABASE, OR OTHER KIND OF
STAFFING NEEDS FOR THIS.
THE-- WE HAVE ASKED, CENTRAL
STAFF HAS ASKED THE EXECUTIVE
FOR MORE INFORMATION TO
ITEMIZED COST, THAT CONSTITUTE
THE UP TO $3.5 MILLION, THE
EXECUTIVE DOESN'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.
THE SENSE IS THAT THERE IS A
RECOGNITION THAT IT COULD COST
A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND SO, THERE IS $3.5 MILLION
THAT IS IDENTIFIED FOR THAT,
THE EXECUTIVE DOESN'T HAVE THE
NUMBER OF THE ACTIVATIONS THAT
HAPPEN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
THERE IS ANECDOTAL DISCUSSION
THAT HAPPENS A LOT, AND
CURRENTLY NEW YORK CITY HAS A
WAY TO STUDY THE NUMBER OF THE
ACTIVATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THERE.
I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT STUDY
WILL BE RELEASED, BUT THAT WILL
BE HELPFUL INFORMATION TO HELP
GUIDE THE FORMATION AND THE
SIZE, AND THE BREATH OF THE
CENTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, AND
COUNCILMEMBER Y
>> I AM NOT QUITE SATISFIED
WITH THE ANSWER WE ARE GETTING
ON ARBITRATION.
I'M COMING IN FOR CLEANUP.
SO ON ARBITRATION, I GUESS
KARINA, WHAT WE ARE NOT-- WHAT
I HAVEN'T HEARD CLEARLY FROM
YOU IS A DIRECT ANSWER TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL'S
OFFICE AND QUESTION AND MAYBE
IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
RESERVED FOR AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION, RATHER THAN OPEN
SESSION, AND IF THAT IS THE
CASE YOU SHOULD JUST TELL US SO
THAT WE CAN STOP--
>> PEPPER YOU WITH QUESTIONS.
>> TORTURING OURSELVES, AND
YOU, AND PEOPLE WATCHING ON
THIS QUESTION.
SO, IN THIS SUPREME COURT CASE
THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DO
YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THAT CASE,
BY THE WAY?
>> EPIC.
>> EPIC?
DID YOU SAY EPIC?
>> EPIC I THINK.
>> SO IN THE EPIC CASE DOES IT
SAY THAT THE CONTRACT, WHEN TWO
PEOPLE ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT,
AND IT HAS AN ARBITRATION
CLAUSE, IF THAT ARBITRATION
CLAUSE ALSO INDICATES THE
VENUE, AND THE FORUM OF WHERE
THE ARBITRATION NEEDS TO TAKE
PLACE, THEN OUR LAW CANNOT
SUPERSEDE THAT CHOSEN FORUM,
THAT AGREED-UPON FORM IN THE
CONTRACT?
IS THAT WHAT-- IS THAT WHAT THE
CASE IS THAT WHAT YOUR TURN TO
TELL US?
SO FOR, IF WE DO ARBITRATION--
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRELL'S
POINT, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT
ARBITRATION OCCURS, WE JUST
WANT TO MANDATE WHERE THAT
ARBITRATION HAPPENS.
SO, NOT AAA, OR, YOU KNOW,
JAMS, OR PICKING ARBITRATOR.
IN THE CITY.
WE WANTED TO HAPPEN AT THE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT IS
PROHIBITED BY THE EPIC SUPREME
COURT CASE?
>> I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS
BEST LEFT TO AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SOMEWHAT
SATISFIED, BUT WE WILL GET OUR
ATTORNEYS TO COME IN.
>> I WILL-- WHAT I WILL POSIT
IS THAT, SO WHAT THE SUPREME
COURT DID IS SIGNAL THE
PRECEDENTS OF THE FEDERAL
ARBITRATION ACT, AND-- IN
ALLOWING EMPLOYERS TO REQUIRE
CERTAIN THINGS, UNDER THEIR
MANDATORY ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
THAT WE NEED TO BE FOLLOWED,
AND WANTED TO SIGNAL THAT THERE
SHOULDN'T BE INTERFERENCE WITH
THAT.
I THINK THE REST CAN BE LEFT
FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I
WILL ADD THAT CALIFORNIA DID
PASS, LAST WEEK, AN INTERESTING
LAW THAT PROHIBITS EMPLOYERS
FROM PROMISING EMPLOYMENT OF
NEW EMPLOYEES ON SIGNING
MANDATORY ARBITRATION
AGREEMENTS, SO RESPECTING THE
EXISTING MANDATORY ARBITRATION
AGREEMENTS, BUT NOT
CONDITIONING NEW EMPLOYMENT ON
SIGNING THOSE.
>> SO JUST-- I SHOULDN'T-- SO
SORT OF CLARIFYING SOMETHING,
SO THE RULES OF DEACTIVATION,
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU VERY--
CITED VERY WELL, SOME OF THE
COMMON PROBLEMS IN THE
DEACTIVATION, SUCH AS A TMC
DRIVER DEACTIVATING, BECAUSE OF
AN ACCIDENT, IT WASN'T THE
DRIVERS FAULT.
FOR EXAMPLE.
AND WE HEARD A STORY AT A PRESS
CONFERENCE, THAT WAS JUST
DEVASTATING FROM A WOMAN THAT
IT WASN'T EVEN HER FAULT, AND
SHE WAS DEACTIVATED AND IT WAS
HER SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME.
THIS FORUM, WE STILL CAN'T
REALLY CHANGE THE RULES BY
WHICH THE TNC'S ARE
DEACTIVATING.
SEE, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A FORUM THAT CAN SORT OF HAVE
A BASELINE NOTION OF WHAT KINDS
OF THINGS SHOULD BE LEGITIMATE
GROUNDS FOR DEACTIVATION OR
NOT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE
SPENDING UP TO 3 1/2 MILLION I
SHOULD SAY, FOR NOW, THE FORUM,
WHICH DOESN'T HAVE TO BE USED
AND THE ARBITRATION, SORT OF A
NO-BRAINER, IF THE RULES ARE
SUCH THAT IF THE RULES ARE SORT
OF UNFAIR, THAT YOU ARE JUST
GOING TO THIS FORUM AND THE
RULES ARE STILL UNFAIR, I HAVE
THE RIGHT TO INVESTIGATE
PENDING, TO SUSPEND YOU,
PENDING THE INVESTIGATION OF
ACCIDENT.
SO THE RULES CAN SAY THAT, WE
DON'T KNOW WHOSE FAULT IT IS,
UNTIL THEN, YOU ARE
DEACTIVATED.
SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE
INFLUENCE THE RULES OF
DEACTIVATION, NOT JUST THE
FORUM, AND THAT IS WHY I WAS
HOPING TO HAVE A CENTRALIZED
REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION, THAT
WE CAN SORT OF INFLUENCE AND
CONTROL, SUCH THAT THEY HAVE
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT
SEEMS TO ME THAT WE ARE SETTING
UP THIS DEACTIVATION CENTER
WHICH IS JUST GOING TO BE ONE
OF MANY FORUMS, AND THE
UNFAIRNESS TO THE DRIVER
CONTINUES COME BECAUSE THE
RULES ARE--
>> OKAY, SO I THINK I A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
FOR THE PANEL ARBITRATION
PROCESS, THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE
AT THE DRIVER RESOLUTION
CENTER, THE RULES THAT THAT
ARBITRATION WOULD OPERATE UNDER
WOULD BE DEVELOPED BY THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS, SO
THOSE RULES THAT CONTROL THE
FORM OF THE PROCEDURE IN THE
EVIDENTIARY PROCEEDINGS, AND
THE BURDEN OF PROOF, ALL OF
THAT WOULD BE YET TO BE ISSUED,
IT WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS, THEY
MAY ADOPT PARTS OF THE AAA
RULES, AND THE JAMS RULES, THEY
MAY COME UP WITH OTHER RULES
THAT THEY BELIEVE WOULD RESULT
IN A MORE FAIR PROCESS, BUT IF
THE TNC, AND THE TNC DRIVER
CHOSE THIS ALTERNATIVE PATH,
THE PANEL ARBITRATION PROCESS,
IT COULD LOOK DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT HAPPENS IN PRIVATE
ARBITRATION.
TO YOUR POINT, THERE IS
NOTHING, RIGHT NOW, THE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD COMPEL
THE TNC'S TO GO TOWARDS THAT
PATH, BUT THERE ARE SOME
ELEMENTS OF THE PANEL
ARBITRATION PROCESS THAT MIGHT
BE APPEALING.
SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE A FASTER
PROCESS, THE DECREASED COST,
THE EXECUTIVE ESTIMATES THAT A--
THAT ON ARBITRATION UNDER THIS
PROCESS COULD BE DONE LIKE, SAY
3 TO 5 IN A DAY AT THE
RESOLUTION CENTER, WHEREAS A
PRIVATE ARBITRATION MIGHT TAKE
ONE DAY, OR TWO DAYS.
I'M SEEING-- SEEING, IS THAT I
NOT YES?
>> NO, YEAH, IT IS JUST A LOT
LONGER TO GO THROUGH A PRIVATE
ARBITRATION PROCESS THAN IT IS
TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> YEAH, AND SO THAT IS WHAT
THE EXECUTIVE IS POSITING IS A
BENEFIT OF GOING THROUGH THIS
PROCESS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKER, AND
BECAUSE THE DRIVER RESOLUTION
CENTER WOULD BE FOCUSING ON ONE
SUBJECT MATTER, DEACTIVATION'S,
THERE WOULD BE MORE OF A
FAMILIARITY WITH THE SUBJECT
MATTER.
>> I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN IS IN THE QUEUE, BUT IF
WE COULD JUST FINISH UP THIS
LINE OF QUESTIONING, I GUESS,
REALLY THE ULTIMATE POLICY
úQUESTION AROUND THE
DEACTIVATION CENTER IN MY MIND
IS, ARE WE-- HAS THE ORDINANCE
AS PROPOSED, CREATED ENOUGH
INCENTIVES TO ENTICE THE TNC'S
TO NOT SIMPLY CATEGORICALLY
ALWAYS DECLINE PARTICIPATING IN
THE DEACTIVATION RIGHTS
ORDINANCE RIGHT?
BECAUSE EVEN WHEN YOU TALKED
ABOUT THE-- EVEN WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT HOW THIS IS A FASTER
PROCESS I SEE THAT MORE AS A
DRIVER BENEFIT AND INCENTIVE
THEN TO THE TNC RIGHT?
IF SOMEBODY AT THE TNC WANTS TO
PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM
CONTESTING THE DEACTIVATION FOR
WHATEVER REASON, THEY ARE GOING
TO OPT FOR THE MORE COMPLEX,
BELABORED PROCESS OF
ARBITRATION TO -- TO AAA, OR
WHATEVER FORUM IT IS THAT THEY
HAVE AGREED TO IN THE CONTRACT.
SO I THINK THAT IS THE AREA
THAT I AM INTERESTED IN LOOKING
AT MORE CLOSELY AND
SPECIFICALLY ARE, WHAT ARE THE
INCENTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE
MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO UTILIZATION
OF THE DEACTIVATION RIGHTS
ORDINANCE, AND I'M NOT QUITE
CONVINCED THAT THE POT HAS BEEN
SWEETENED ENOUGH IS THAT RIGHT?
THAT THE POT HAS BEEN SWEETENED
ENOUGH TO ELICIT THAT LEVEL OF
COMPLIANCE AND MAYBE IT IS ALSO
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ANOTHER
LOOK AT THE DEACTIVATION RIGHTS
ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF GOOD
FAITH PARTICIPATION, I DON'T
THINK I HAVE SEEN THAT LANGUAGE
USED, BUT PERHAPS I MISSED IT
IN-- AND CORRECT ME IF I HAVE,
YOU LOVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO
THE DETAILS. MOST OF OUR
RESOLUTION PROCESSES AT THE
CITY DO IMPOSE SOME LEVEL OF
úGOOD FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING,
AND SOME SORT OF REPERCUSSION
IF GOOD FAITH-- IF SOMEBODY
DETERMINES THAT GOOD FAITH HAS
NOT ACTUALLY BEEN PRESENT IN
SORT OF THE, THE ENGAGEMENT OF
MAKING THIS DECISION, SO I
THINK THOSE ARE AREAS I WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I DID NOT
NOTICE THE WORDS GOOD FAITH,
AND YOU-- IT IS AT THE HEART OF
THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT
THIS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL
DIFFERENT PATH, IF-- WHETHER OR
NOT TNC'S WILL ACTUALLY USE IT,
SO YES, YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED I
THINK, THE HEART OF THE ISSUE.
AND IT IS ADDRESSED AND AT
LEAST ONE OF THE [
SILENCE ]
>> ON DEACTIVATION.
IS THAT SOMETHING, IS THERE
SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT IS
PREDICTED AND THEY DON'T HAVE
TO GIVE IT TO US?
>> I AM NOT AWARE OF
PROTECTIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT
COLLECTING THAT DATA.
>> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, IF IT IF
THAT IS USEFUL DATA, SO MUCH
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET, I AM
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT
WE CAN EITHER REQUIRE IT, OR,
MAYBE PENALIZE, IF THEY DON'T
SUPPLY THE DATA?
GIVE THEM AN OPTION THAT THERE
MIGHT BE A TAX ON THE LICENSE,
OR WHATEVER TO DO THE BUSINESS
IF THEY DON'T FIND THE DATA, IF
THEY PROVIDE THE DATA THAT IS
HELPFUL.
I MEAN, THEY CLEARLY HAVE IT.
AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT
SHARING IT IS, I DON'T SEE WHAT
BUSINESS PURPOSE THAT SERVES ON
THEIR END.
THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE HELPFUL
FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO
KNOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THE FIRST ISSUE IS IN
REGARDS TO RULEMAKING, THE
LEGISLATION IDENTIFIES AT LEAST
EIGHT ISSUES FOR RULEMAKING.
THE MEMO IDENTIFIES FIVE OF
THEM.
AND, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIRECTOR
WOULD BE DEFINING WHAT AN
UNWARRANTED DEACTIVATION IS,
THE RULES WOULD CLARIFY THE
EVERY ELIGIBILITY TO CHALLENGE
DEACTIVATION'S PROCEDURES, ETC.
SO WHEN HE RULEMAKING PROCESS
IS GOING TO ENTAIL NOTICE A
PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT, TO
ENSURE THAT THE DIRECTOR'S
DECISION IS NOT ARBITRARY,
SETTING PARAMETERS ON THE
RULEMAKING PROCESS COULD MAKE
IT EVEN MORE OR LESS
SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHALLENGES IN
ARBITRARY DECISION BY THE
DIRECTOR.
PARAMETERS COULD ALSO SIGNAL
THE COUNCILS INTENT ON WHAT IS
IMPORTANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE RULES, THE RULEMAKING
PROCESS.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF COUNSEL
SETTING PARAMETERS, AND
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SERVICES
FUND.
SOME THAT ARE SUGGESTED IN THE
MEMO, INCLUDE PRIORITIZING A
PROCESS THAT REQUIRES
TRANSPARENCY, INCLUSION AND
LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THE
STAKEHOLDERS.
CONSIDERATION OF JUST CAUSE
STANDARDS.
EVIDENCE-BASED CRITERIA, FAIR
TREATMENT, TRANSPARENCY,
CONSISTENCY AND OTHER
PRINCIPLES.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT COULD
BE CONSIDERED FOR ONE
PARTICULAR RULEMAKING AREA, OR
FOR MORE.
>> SO, SO I LIKE THE ISSUE
RAISED, SO THIS SORT OF
SUGGESTS THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS
AUTHORITY, LEGAL AUTHORITY TO
DO A LOT OF THIS WORK WHICH
SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD HAVE HAD
AUTHORITY TO DEFINE THE FORUM
THOUGH, I GUESS I JUST GO BACK
TO THAT ISSUE, BECAUSE IT SEEMS
LIKE WE ARE SUGGESTING THEY CAN
DEFINE THE ACTION TO
DEACTIVATION-- THE BASIS FOR
DEACTIVATION, RIGHT?
AND THE PREHEARING PROCEDURES.
SO, WE ARE STILL SORT OF
DELVING INTO THE CONTRACT THAT
THE DRIVER SIGNED WITH THE TNC
A LITTLE BIT, IT SOUNDS TO ME.
AND THAT CONTRACTOR IS JUST
SILENT ON THESE ISSUES.
>> SO, TO MAKE SURE I AM
UNDERSTANDING, WHEN YOU
MENTIONED THE FORUM, ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT THE FORUM FOR THE
PANEL ARBITRATION?
OR THE PANEL FOR THE PRIVATE
ARBITRATION?
>> SO I AM JUST READING SORT OF
THE SUGGESTION HERE THAT SAYS
THE DEFINITION-- THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION WOULD GIVE THE
DIRECTOR THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE
RULES ON THE DEFINITION OF
UNWARRANTED DEACTIVATION, IS
THAT JUST FOR THE DRIVER
RESOURCE CENTER?
>> SO THE DEFINITION OF OF WHAT
COUNTED CONSTITUTES AN
UNWARRANTED DEACTIVATION WOULD
APPLY TO A PRIVATE ARBITRATION,
AND TO THIS PANEL ARBITRATION
PROCESS.
SO, YOU ARE CORRECT, IT WOULD
CREATE A LEGAL RIGHT THAT COULD
BE HANDLED IN THE PRIVATE
ARBITRATION, OR THE PANEL
ARBITRATION.
>> SO I THINK, JUST TO FOLLOW
YOUR RATIONALE, IF THE DIRECTOR
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT
KIND OF RULE, I DON'T SEE WHY
THE DIRECTOR CAN MAKE A RULE AS
TO WHERE THEIR ARBITRATIONS
SHOULD GO.
WHAT?
ANYWAY, I MEAN WE ARE
SUGGESTING THAT THE DIRECTOR
HAS MORE OR LESS THE AUTHORITY
TO DO ALL OF THIS STUFF, TO
DEFINE WHAT DEACTIVATION IS.
ISN'T THAT ALREADY IN THE
CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND
THE TNC COMPANY?
>> I CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
>> I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT ALL
OF THAT WOULD BE IN THEIR
CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND
THE TNC COMPANY.
ANYWAY, THESE ARE GOOD ISSUES
TO SPOT.
IF THE DIRECTOR HAS THAT
AUTHORITY.
APPARENTLY THEY DO.
>> ALL RIGHT COUNSEL-- ALL
RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL,
AND COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL A
GENERAL REACTION I HAVE TWO THE
BREATH OF POLICY ISSUES THAT WE
ARE DELEGATING TO THE DIRECTOR,
TO ADDRESS IN RULEMAKING, I-- I
MAY BE HAVING THIS VISCERAL
RESPONSE HIM-- AND IT MAY NOT
BE AN INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE
DELEGATING A LOT OF POLICY
CHOICES IN THIS RULEMAKING
PROCESS, AS OPPOSED TO MY
FAMILIARITY WITH RULEMAKING.
IS GENERALLY ABOUT HOW TO
IMPLEMENT A POLICY THAT HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED, BY THE COUNCIL.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE,
LIKE DETAILED THAN THAT RIGHT
NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A
MORE CAREFUL LOOK AT THESE
ISSUES.
>> I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD
POINT.
ALL RIGHT, PLEASE PROCEED.
>> OKAY ON THAT SAME NOTE--
>> I APOLOGIZE, I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ HAD
ANOTHER COMMENT.
>> I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE
THE SAME EXACT COMMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> MIND MELD HAPPENING OVER
HERE.
>> UNDER THE ORDINANCE HAPPENING
THERE, IT WOULD ESTABLISH A
RIGHT FOR A TNC DRIVER TO ELECT
A REPRESENTATIVE , INCLUDING AN
ADVOCATE FROM THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, TO REPRESENT
THEM DURING ANY DEACTIVATION
CHALLENGE, AND WHETHER THE
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER WOULD
AGREE TO REPRESENT THAT DRIVER,
IS SUBJECT TO THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTERS DISCRETION.
WHICH APPEARS TO BE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION, THERE ARE
NO CRITERIA LISTED IN THE
LEGISLATION, AS TO WHY THE
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER WOULD
AGREE, OR DISAGREE TO REPRESENT
A DRIVER, SO THAT HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS A POSSIBLE AREA
FOR RULEMAKING.
IT COULD ALSO BE IDENTIFIED IN
THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.
AND, IF IT IS IDENTIFIED AS AN
AREA FOR RULEMAKING, THEN
AGAIN, IT COULD BE
CONTEMPLATION OF SETTING THE
PARAMETERS TO GUIDE THAT
RULEMAKING PROCESS.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ISSUE IS
REGARDING NOTICE OF IMPENDING
DEACTIVATION, THE LEGISLATION
WOULD REQUIRE TNC'S TO PROVIDE
TWO KINDS OF NOTICE TO DRIVERS.
REGARDING A DEACTIVATION.
ONE OF THEM WOULD BE NOTICE OF
AN IMPENDING DEACTIVATION.
THAT IS BEFORE IT HAPPENS, IT
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE IT
FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY
ACTIVATION, AND THEN NOTICE BE
UPON DEACTIVATION.
THE LATTER NOTICE, UPON
DEACTIVATION IS REQUIRED TO
HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION IN IT, WRITTEN
STATEMENT OF THE REASONS, THE
EFFECTIVE DATE, AND THE RIGHT
TO CHALLENGE THE DEACTIVATION.
THAT CONTENT IS NOT REQUIRED
FOR THE NOTICE OF IMPENDING
DEACTIVATION, SO THE RESULT
WOULD BE THAT DRIVERS WOULD
RECEIVE A NOTICE OF IMPENDING
DEACTIVATION, WITH NOTHING IN
IT, OTHER THAN THIS IS GOING TO
HAPPEN IN 14 DAYS.
SO POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION IS
ADDING THAT SAME BODY OF
LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT UPON
DEACTIVATION NOTICE TO THE
IMPENDING DEACTIVATION NOTICE,
SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN BEGIN
PREPARING IMMEDIATELY FOR WHAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN TWO WEEKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN HAS A QUESTION.
>> THAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY
LOGICAL OPTION, THANK YOU FOR
PROVIDING THAT.
I'M CURIOUS, DO YOU THINK THAT
IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT THERE?
ARE SOME TECHNICAL REASONS WHY
THEY FELT THAT WOULD WORK?
>> I ASKED THE EXECUTIVE IF
THERE WOULD BE ANY HARM TO
ADDING THAT INFORMATION.
ONLY THE FIRST PART OF YOUR
QUESTION, BUT THE EXECUTIVE HAS
INDICATED THAT THEY DON'T
FORECAST ANY HARM IN ADDING
THAT INFORMATION TO THE NOTICE
OF THEM PENDING DEACTIVATION.
>> SIGN ME UP AS A SUPPORTER OF
THAT OPTION THEN.
>> GOOD, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> NEXT ISSUE IS IN REGARDS TO
WHAT THE LEGISLATION CALLS A
PARTISAN PANEL MEMBER.
AGAIN, THE PANEL ARBITRATION
PROCESS CONSISTS OF A MUTUAL
ARBITRATOR THAT IS CONTRACTED
BY THE CITY.
AND THAT IS VETTED AND
CONTRACTED BY THE CITY, AND
THEN AN EQUAL NUMBER OF WHAT IS
CALLED A PARTISAN PANEL MEMBER,
THESE PANEL MEMBERS WOULD
REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF THE
TNC, AND THE TNC DRIVER , THE
DECISION OF THE PANEL WOULD BE
BY MAJORITY VOTE.
THE CITY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THESE
PARTISAN PANEL MEMBERS, THIS
TERM IS NOT DEFINED IN THE
LEGISLATION, AND IT COULD BE A
BIT CONFUSING, AS TO WHAT THAT
PARTISAN PANEL PANEL MEMBERS
ROLE IS.
ARE THEY AN ADVOCATE?
ARE THEY ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL
ARBITRATOR?
IT IS UNCLEAR FROM THE CURRENT
LANGUAGE. THERE IS ONE SENTENCE
THAT SAYS THE PANEL DECISION IN
ANY INDICATION WOULD BE BY AN
ARBITRATOR HOLDING ONE VOTE,
INSTEAD OF REFERRING TO THE
PANEL NUMBER, SO THIS IS AN
AREA THAT COULD BE CLEARED UP
WITH AN AMENDMENT, THE PROPOSAL
COULD BE CHANGED TO DEFINE WHAT
A PARTISAN PANEL MEMBER IS,
THAT COULD BE LEFT AS YET
ANOTHER AREA FOR RULEMAKING,
WITH PARAMETERS OR SIMPLY THE
LAW COULD BE AMENDED TO REPLACE
THE WORD ARBITRATOR, WITH PANEL
MEMBER.
AND IN CHECKING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE, THERE WAS NO
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT
CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE FROM
ARBITRATOR TO PART PANEL MEMBER
.
>> ALL RIGHT, QUESTION.
PLEASE.
>> SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY EVEN
DEFINE THE NUMBER OF PARTISAN
PANEL MEMBERS, JUST AS THEY
NEED TO BE EQUAL?
>> CORRECT.
AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER AREA
SUBJECT TO RULES.
>> OKAY.
>> I LIKE IT THAT YOU KEEP
WALKING-- LOOKING DOWN HERE TO
SEE WHO IS GOING TO JUMP ON THE
QUESTION ABOUT RULEMAKING.
>> YOU ARE FOLLOWING MY EYES.
>> YEAH, NO I'M-- I MEAN, IT
SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, EACH ONE
THERE IS A MUTUAL ARBITRATOR
BETWEEN THE MUTUAL ARBITRATOR,
DOES IT TALK ABOUT HOW THAT
ARBITRATOR IS SELECTED?
>> SO, THE CITY WOULD CONTRACT
WITH A LIST OF ARBITRATORS, TO
PERFORM THIS WORK.
SO THE CITY WOULD DO THE WORK
OF VETTING WHO THE CITY
BELIEVES IS A NEUTRAL
ARBITRATOR, AND ONE THAT COULD
FAIRLY ARBITRATE THESE CASES.
AND THEN COME THE CITY WOULD
PROVIDE THAT LIST TO THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, AND THE
TNC'S , IN THE EVENT, SO THAT
THE TNC'S -- DRIVER RESOLUTION
CENTER WOULD DECIDE WHAT
ARBITRATOR THEY WANTED FROM
THAT LIST, AND MOVE FORWARD AND
PAY FOR HALF OF IT.
>> OKAY.
YEAH, I THINK THE FINDING THAT
PARTISAN PANEL MEMBER, AND
TRIED TO ENVISION HOW, HOW--
AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
ENVISIONED IN THIS LEGISLATION.
I GET THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE
WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY AN
ADVOCATE FOR EACH SIDE, WITH
THE ARBITRATOR.
AND THEN I GUESS, THE
ASSUMPTION WOULD BE THAT IF
BOTH ADVOCATES DISAGREED WITH
THE ARBITRATOR, THEY COULD
OVERRIDE THE ARBITRATOR, BUT
REALLY, THE ARBITRATOR IS JUST
MAKING A DECISION AND THERE'S
ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES
PRESENT.
>> CORRECT.
THE MUTUAL ARBITRATOR WOULD
SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THE
DECISION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS STATED THAT
THEY ENVISION THESE PARTISAN
PANEL MEMBERS, NOT NECESSARILY
TO BE ATTORNEYS, BUT IT WOULD
BE A-- A STAFF MEMBER OF THE
DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER, AN
EMPLOYEE OF THE TMC.
AGAIN, THE EXECUTIVE THINKS
THIS IS ALL TO LOWER-COST,
BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ATTORNEY
NECESSARILY, ALTHOUGH IT COULD
BE AN ATTORNEY, WHO IS AN
EMPLOYEE OF THE TNC.
>> I THINK SOME CLARITY ON THIS
WOULD BE HELPFUL, SO I LIKE THE
VARIETY OF OPTIONS YOU HAVE
THERE.
IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT
THIS IS THREE EQUAL PEOPLE OR--
SEVEN EQUAL PEOPLE OR WHATEVER
IT IS, BUT IF IT IS-- SEEMS
LIKE IT MIGHT BE CLEARER TO
JUST BE CALLING IT A, THERE IS
AN ARBITRATOR AND ADVOCATE ON
EACH THAT, JUST TO BE CLEAR OF
WHAT IS GOING ON.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S
LEGAL REASONS WHY WE USE THESE
TERMS, TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
OTHER YOU KNOW, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND ARBITRATION LAWS AS
WELL AS MY LAWYER COLLEAGUES TO
MY RIGHT AND LEFT.
>> THANK YOU.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU
WANTED TO RESPOND TO THAT?
>> THE ONE THING I WILL ADD TO
THAT IS THAT I AM NOT AN
EXPERT, BUT I HAVE READ IN SOME
OF THE RESEARCH ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF MANDATORY ARBITRATION
THAT LABOR ARBITRATION HAS--
CAN, IN THE CONTEXT OF A-- OF
UNIONS, AND MANAGEMENT
ARBITRATIONS, A PANEL PROCESS
HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUCCESSFUL
AND, PERHAPS THIS IS A WAY OF
TRYING TO REPLICATE THAT IN A
DIFFERENT FORM.
>> CAN I--? I APPRECIATE THE
REFERENCE TO LABOR ARBITRATION,
I THINK IT IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT, IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY APPLES TO APPLES,
SO I DON'T WANT TO STEP INTO THE
INADVERTENTLY STEP INTO AN
APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON IN
THAT REGARD.
BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY MUCH
MORE ABOUT CONTRACT BASED
ARBITRATION, WHICH IS, IN MY
MIND, FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT,
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE IT SKEWS
IN FAVOR OF WHOMEVER THE
CORPORATION IS, AS OPPOSED TO
LABOR ARBITRATION, WHICH TENDS
TO BE A FAIRER PROCESS FOR THE
REPRESENTATIVE WORKER.
BUT I THINK IF THERE ARE
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM HOW
LABOR ARBITRATION IS
STRUCTURED, THEN PERHAPS THAT
WOULD-- THAT COULD BE A GOOD
MODEL FOR US TO CONSIDER, AS WE
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS
BROUGHT BY COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN, WHICH I SHARE.
FRANKLY, I DON'T PARTICULARLY
LIKE THE PHRASE PARTISAN PANEL
MEMBER.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AN ODD
PHRASING IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS
CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT WILL LEAD MOST
PEOPLE TO IMMEDIATELY THINK
SOMEBODY IS A REPUBLICAN AND
SOMEBODY IS A DEMOCRAT, WHICH
IS A LITTLE WEIRD IN THIS
CONTEXT, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN
AREA THAT NEEDS SOME
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, AND
CLARIFICATION.
AND I AM OF THE GENERAL
PRINCIPLE, AT THIS POINT, THAT
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD
RELEGATE RULEMAKING.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED
AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE,
BECAUSE I SEE IT AS A
FUNDAMENTAL POLICY DECISION,
AND A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE
STRUCTURE, THE OVERALL CONCEPT
HERE.
>> OKAY.
YEAH.
THE NEXT ISSUE IS ABOUT THE
COST OF ARBITRATION, AND
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ, THIS
SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU WERE
BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION
EARLIER.
THE COST OF THE PROPOSED-- OF
THE PANEL ARBITRATION WOULD BE
SHARED EQUALLY BY THE TNC, AND
THE DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER,
BUT ONLY IF THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER IS
REPRESENTING THE TNC DRIER.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE
THE TNC TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE
PANEL ARBITRATION IF THE TNC
DRIVER IS NOT REPRESENTED BY
THE DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER.
SO, THIS INDICATES LESS
INCENTIVE FOR THE TNC TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PANEL
ARBITRATION, AND SO THE
COUNSEL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
WHETHER MITIGATING THE COST FOR
THE PANEL ARBITRATION COULD
INCUR MORE SITUATIONS WHERE
THEY TNC WHAT ACTUALLY
PARTICIPATE IN IT, OR IF THERE
ARE OTHER WAYS AGAIN, TO THINK
ABOUT INCENTIVIZING THE TNC'S
TO USE THIS PROCESS.
úSO, POSSIBLE OPTIONS INCLUDE
REQUIRING THE TNC TO PAY FOR
HALF OF THE COST OF THE PANEL
ARBITRATION, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THE TNC DRIVER IS
REPRESENTED BY THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER.
AGAIN, THIS IS-- THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT ARE-- HAVE BEEN
SUGGESTED AS RULES, THIS IS
ANOTHER ONE THAT COULD BE
ADDRESSED IN THE ORDINANCE
ITSELF.
AS WELL.
>> ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, YOU
KNOW, I THINK IN ORDER TO MAKE
A BETTER POLICY DECISION HERE,
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PUT THIS
QUESTION INTO CONTEXT, SO, WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEE WILL BE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISPUTE,
SORRY.
THE DEACTIVATION RESOURCE
CENTER OF PROCESS. BUT WE
PROBABLY HAVE SOME SENSE OF HOW
MUCH IT COSTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE EXISTING ARBITRATION
PROCESS AS INDICATED BY WHATEVER
CONTRACT HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN.
O I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD
GET A COMPARISON, THAT
CONTEXTUAL COMPARISON OF HOW
MUCH TMC'S ARE PAYING
CURRENTLY, FOR ARBITRATION,
THAT MIGHT SHINE SOME LIGHT ON
WHETHER OR NOT THIS PARTICULAR
INCENTIVE, I.E., THE COST OF
PARTICIPATING IN THIS
ARBITRATION PROCESS, VERSUS THE
PRIVATE ARBITRATION PROCESS IS
-- CREATES A GREATER INCENTIVE
OR NOT.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> IT DOES.
I CAN LOOK INTO THAT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAROLD.
>> JUST A COMMENT, IT IS
GETTING TO THE END, BUT I WAS
GOING TO SAY, THIS IS SORT OF A
WEIRD PROCESS THAT WE ARE
SETTING UP, A LITTLE BIT.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN I
FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, BECAUSE I
THOUGHT, HEARING THE HORRORS OF
DEACTIVATION, THERE IS A
NEUTRAL FORUM, THAT EVERYONE IS
REQUIRED TO GO TO, AND THAT IS
WHERE THERE IS GOING TO BE
JUSTICE.
AND, THIS IS A DIFFERENT
SYSTEM, NUMBER ONE, THEY DON'T
HAVE TO USE IT.
THE TNC'S CAN SAY OH, I'M NOT
OPTING FOR THAT.
AND THEN, THE DRIVER RESOURCE
CENTER HAS PROPOSED, THEY DON'T
EVEN HAVE TO REPRESENT THE
PERSON.
I CHOOSE NOT TO REPRESENT YOU,
SO THE DRIVER STILL SEEMS THAT
THEY ARE VULNERABLE TO
UNFAIRNESS OF A DEACTIVATION.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME.
AND THEN, THE ACTIVATION CENTER
ITSELF, BECAUSE A PERSON CAN
REPRESENT THE PERSON AT THE
CENTER, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME
KIND OF WALL UP, I TAKE IT,
BECAUSE YOU ARE HAVING A COFFEE
EVERY DAY WITH A PERSON, ALL OF
A SUDDEN SOMEONE AT THE CENTER
IS NOW RULING AS A NEUTRAL
ARBITER, IN A MANNER THEIR
COLLEAGUE IS ONE OF THE
REPRESENTED-- ONE OF THE
REPRESENTING PARTIES?
THAT IS-- YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
WALLOP, WHICH SEEMS STRANGE.
AND SO THIS MODEL, FOR ME IS
BECOMING A LITTLE PROBLEMATIC,
I THINK WE CAN FIX IT SOMEHOW,
BUT IT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE
STRANGE.
>> OKAY
>> SO, JUST TO CLARIFY, I WILL
FOLLOW UP ON THOSE CONCERNS
AND, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ON THE SAME PAGE OF
UNDERSTANDING, THE ARBITRATOR
WOULD NOT WORK AT THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, THE
ARBITRATOR WOULD--
>> OH, THANKS FOR CLARIFYING
THAT.
I WAS THINKING THEY WERE AN
EMPLOYEE THERE TOO.
SO THE ARBITRATOR-- ARBITRATOR?
>> ARBITER, ARBITRATOR.
>> THAT PERSON COMES IN, AND
THEY ARE NOT ON EVERYDAY
EMPLOYEE.
>> CRACKED, SO IT IS A SEPARATE
LIST OF PROFESSIONAL
ARBITRATORS THAT THE CITY WOULD
BUT AND PAY FOR.
>> OKAY, THANKS FOR CLARIFYING
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, ANYTHING ELSE
STILL HERE?
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THE FINAL ISSUE THAT HAS
BEEN IDENTIFIED WILL ACTUALLY,
IT IS ALMOST THE FINAL ISSUE IS
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
LEGISLATION WHICH IS JULY 1,
2020.
BY THE STATE, OLS HAS A LOT OF
WORK TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED,
SHOULD THIS BE PASSED, THEY
WOULD HAVE ISSUED A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS FOR THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER THEY WOULD'VE
COMPLETED RULEMAKING ON THE
VAST NUMBER OF AREAS, THEY
WOULD BE ESTABLISHING THE
DEACTIVATION OF APPEALS PANEL,
GIVEN ALL THE WORK NECESSARY
FOR LAMENTING THIS LEGISLATION,
THE EFFECTIVE DATE COULD BE
CHALLENGING.
IT MAY NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR
THE TNC'S TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF
THE RULES, REGARDING WHAT IS AN
UNWARRANTED DEACTIVATION, THE
LEGISLATION RULES WOULD GO INTO
EFFECT AROUND THE SAME TIME,
MOST LIKELY.
THE EFFECTIVE DATE MIGHT RESULT
IN A SITUATION WHERE TNC
DRIVERS WOULD HAVE RIGHTS, BUT
SCANT MEANS FOR ACCESSING THE
BENEFITS OR PROTECTION OF THOSE
RIGHTS, IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
TO A PANEL ARBITRATION THAT
ISN'T FULLY PUT INTO PLACE YET.
IF THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO
REPRESENTATION BY A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DRIVER
RESOLUTION CENTER, BUT THERE IS
NO DRIVER RESOLUTION CENTER.
YET, SO IT CERTAINLY COULD
RESULT IN A DISCONNECT.
SO THE COUNSEL MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER DELAYING THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THE LEGISLATION TO
ALLOW MORE TIME FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> IS THAT LAST ONE?
>> THAT IS THE LAST ONE.
>> AND I JUST HAVE SOME
COMMENTS ON THIS ONE?
>> SO I APPRECIATE THE SIGNAL
THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS
AMBITIOUS, SHALL WE SAY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M PREPARED
TO SUGGEST, OR SUPPORT AN
AMENDMENT TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE,
BUT I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHER
TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
HAVE A GREATER DEGREE OF
CONFIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO
MONITOR THE PROGRESS TOWARDS
STATED MILESTONES, THAT WOULD
GIVE US ALL A HIGHER LEVEL OF
CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE ON TRACK
TO BE READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION
ON JULY 1st OF 2020.
>> OKAY.
AND SO, I CAN PUT SOME THOUGHT
INTO WHAT THOSE MILESTONES
MIGHT BE.
>> YEAH, MILESTONES, AND SORT
OF MECHANISMS BY WHICH THE CITY
COUNCIL CAN MONITOR
ACHIEVEMENT, OR NON-ACHIEVEMENT
OF THOSE, THOSE MILESTONES.
A BIT OF A DASHBOARD PERHAPS IF
YOU WILL?
>> A GATES TO KEEP GOING IF YOU
DON'T GET THROUGH THAT GATE.
>> RIGHT, SO AGAIN, I THINK
IT'S-- I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS
AMBITIOUS, I CAN APPRECIATE
THAT IT IS AN AMBITIOUS
EFFECTIVE DATE, BUT I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE AREN'T IN A
SITUATION ON-- IN-- MAY OF
2020, OR JUNE OF 2020 THAT THIS
IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME, I
THINK THE SOONER THE COUNCIL
HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND THAT, OR APPRECIATE
THAT, AND TAKE ACTION, AND
COLLABORATION WITH THE
EXECUTIVE AND STAKEHOLDERS, THE
BETTER OFF WE WILL ALL BE.
>> THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL
ISSUES.
>> YES.
>> ON THE LAST PAGE.
>> TECHNICAL ISSUES.
TWO OF THEM, IN THE RECITALS
FOR THIS LEGISLATION, IT
STATES, IN 2018, THE TWO LARGEST
TNC'S ACCOUNTED FOR 4 MILLION
TRIPS OF THE CITY, IN KING
COUNTY, IT IS AN OVERSIGHT, IT
IS JUST THE CITY, IT IS NOT
KING COUNTY, THERE WOULD BE A
LOT MORE IF KING COUNTY WERE
INCLUDED IN THAT.
SO THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER
STRIKING THAT LANGUAGE, IN KING
COUNTY.
THE SECOND TECHNICAL ISSUE IS
DUPLICATE LANGUAGE IN THE
REMEDIES SECTION.
IT SAYS TWICE THAT FOR A FIRST
VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE,
THERE CAN BE AN ASSESSMENT OF
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES, IN AN
AMOUNT UP TO TWICE THE UNPAID
COMPENSATION DUE, AND THEN IT
SAYS, FOR SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATIONS, THE PANEL GENESIS
OF AN AMOUNT TWICE, AND IT IS
UP TO TWICE THE AMOUNT DUE, SO
IT IS DUPLICATION, I CHECKED
WITH THE EXECUTIVE, AND IT WAS
AN OVERSIGHT, SO THEY ARE COULD
BE JUST BE INSERTING THE WORD
FOR ANY VIOLATION, THERE COULD
BE LIQUIDATION DAMAGES THAT NOT
TWICE THE AMOUNT THAT IS DUE.
>> GOOD, GOOD CATCH.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS?
>> AND THAT COMPLETES MY
PREPARED DISCUSSION FOR THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, AND ANYBODY ELSE
WANTS TO BRING IN ANY LAST
COMMENTS FOR KARINA?
OKAY.
WE ARE AT THE END THEN, WHAT IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BRING FORWARD?
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE HAVE GOT
TO TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND
I THINK WE HAVE GOT OVER 50
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP AT
THIS POINT I AM GOING TO
SUGGEST THAT WE DO A MINUTE AND
A HALF FOR TESTIMONY AND, IF
YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SPEAK
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU ARE GOING
TO SAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
AMEND IT IS VERY HELPFUL,
RATHER THAN JUST HEARING THE
SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO, WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO
GET GOING, AND I'M GOING TO ASK
YOU, PLEASE, WHEN I CALL YOUR
NAME, TO PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE, WE WILL HAVE TALK
AT COVINA, IF I SLAUGHTER YOUR
NAME, THEN PLEASE CORRECT ME.
BOB GELBER INCIDENT.
AND A LOT OF AHMED.
AND WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
KIMIKO ON IT, AND A
REPRESENTATIVE AT TEAMSTER
WALMART SETTING.
AND A FORMER UBER DRIVER.
AND IF ONE OF THE UBER DRIVER
FOUNDERS.
I WANT TO MAKE ONE REMARK.
TO THAT YOU HAVE INDICATED.
AT 2:00 P.M.
TODAY IS THE CURRENT TIME, THAT
IS WHY A LOT OF DRIVER
COMMUNITY COULDN'T MAKE IT OUT
HERE, SO THAT IS ONE THING TO
KEEP IN MIND.
MY COMMENT IS VERY MUCH VERY
SIMPLE.
HERE IN SEATTLE, DRIVERS ARE
UNITED AROUND THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE IS WE ALL DESERVE A
FAIR PAY.
NUMBER TWO, WE WANT OUR CITY TO
BE A FAIR CITY IN THE NATION TO
ADDRESS DEACTIVATION.
NUMBER THREE, DRIVERS WANT TO
HAVE A VOICE.
IT IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
VOICE, WHEN WE WORK ON THIS
PLATFORM.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR FOR CONCENTRATING
THIS, BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY
ADDRESSES OUR THREE TOP
PRIORITIES.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
GET IT DONE.
IT IS SO CRUCIAL FOR DRIVER
COMMITTEE.
IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
THAT WE HAVE A FORMAL HOUSING
OPTION, AS PART OF THIS
WORKPLAN.
AND ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE SEATTLE CLAUSE WORKS
FOR EVERYONE, WHICH INCLUDES
DRIVERS COMMUNITY, AND EVERYONE
IN THIS INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING DOWN TODAY.
BOB, THEN LOTTO, THEN DON
QUERY.
>> YES.
MY NAME IS BOB GAIL BROWN
>> JUST USE, STAND CLOSE TO THE
MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
>> THE FOLLOWING MIGHT BE
BETTER THOUGH.
THERE YOU GO.
>> OKAY, IS THAT BETTER?
OKAY, MY NAME IS BOB GAIL
BROWNSON.
AND I LOST MY ARM DUE TO
CANCER.
NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT LOSING MY
JOB.
I STARTED DRIVING OVER AFTER I
RETIRED FROM MY REGULAR JOB, AND
SOCIAL SECURITY AND WHATEVER
SAVINGS I HAD DON'T QUITE
ENOUGH MONEY THERE TO PAY THE
BILLS.
SO-- AND THEN AFTER I WAS HIT
BY AN UNINSURED MOTORIST, UBER
SHUT OFF MY APP.
I CALLED THEM, AND EMAILED
THEM, AND WENT TO THE OFFICE
WITH A COPY OF THE POLICE
REPORT.
AND IN THE REPORT, THE DRIVER
OF THE OTHER CAR ADMITTED GUILT.
AND I WENT TO UBER, WITH A--
THE REPORT, AND COOPER SAYS
THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO
ABOUT IT.
IT WASN'T MY FAULT, AND THE
OTHER PERSON, THE OTHER PERSON
ADMITTED GUILT.
AND I WAS FIRED.
HUBER CAUSE IT DEACTIVATION.
BUT IT'S BEING FIRED.
BEFORE I, BEFORE I RETIRED, I
WORKED FOR A SMALL VENDING
MACHINE COMPANY.
WE FILLED BUBBLEGUM MACHINES,
AND KIDDIE RIDES IN THE LOBBIES
OF THE GROCERY STORE.
THEY TRADED ME TREATED ME LIKE
FAMILY.
WHEN I LOST MY ARM, MY BOSS
EVEN CAME WITH ME TO THE
HOSPITAL.
I DON'T EXPECT THAT TREATMENT
FROM UBER, BUT DRIVERS DO
DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE,
TREATED WITH HUMAN DECENCY AND
RESPECT.
I URGE YOU TO PASS THE FAIR
SHARE PLAN.
DRIVERS DESERVE THE RIGHT TO
APPEAL DEACTIVATION.
>> BOB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING DOWN.
QUITE A STORY.
LOTTO DON QUERY AND THEN YOU
YAMMER ON TERRACE.
>> THANK YOU.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR GIVING
IT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
THE NAME IS WHAT HAPPENED ON
THAT, I AM A UBER DRIVER.
I AM HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE
DRIVER LEADER COMMITTEES AT THE
TEAMSTER UNION.
OUR DRIVER COMMUNITY IS DIVERSE.
COMES FROM ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.
THIS WEEK ALONE, AFTER MEETING
WITH THE TEAMSTER, WITH THE
DRIVERS AROMA, SOMALIA,
ETHIOPIA, SOUTHERN SUDAN,
GAMBIA, JAMBI, KENYA, GAGNE,
LaTINA, IRAN, SENEGAL US, AND
THE WHITE FOLKS TWO.
[ APPLAUSE ] AMONG 30,000
DRIVERS.
THERE ARE MANY CULTURAL,
TRADITIONAL, AND DIFFERENT
POLITICS.
PROBABLY 30-- 30,000 DRIVERS
DIFFERENT OPINION.
OUR DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONG.
AND WHAT UNITES US IS GREATER
THAN WHAT DIVIDES US.
AND THAT IS WHAT A UNION IS.
AND UNION.
UNITY. A
PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME
TOGETHER AND SPEAK WITH MORE
POWERFUL VOICE.
DRIVERS ARE UNITED AROUND THREE
PRIORITIES.
FAIR PAY, TO GIVE DRIVERS A
LIVING WAGE.
AFTER EXPENSES.
PROTECTION FROM DEACTIVATION,
AND HAVING A POWERFUL VOICE
WITH DRIVER SUPPORT CENTER.
ALL OF THIS PRIORITIES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE FAIR SHARE
PLAN.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PUTTING
DRIVERS PRIORITIES BACK ON THE
AGENDA AT THE CITY HALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LOTTO.
[ APPLAUSE ].
>> DON QUERY, YAMMER, AND THEN
JAKE LINDSAY.
PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I'M DON QUERY, VERY
NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.
THERE IS A TIME SEVERAL YEARS
AGO, WHEN THIS D&C DRIVERS, OR
TAXI DRIVERS PROVIDED A MIDDLE-
CLASS LIVELIHOOD FOR THOSE WHO
DID THE JOB.
THEN IN THE YEAR 14, 15, DUE TO
THE DISRUPTION, THAT PRETTY
MUCH, IN OUR CASE WAS TRAPPED
IN ABOUT HALF.
AND IN THE YEARS PRECEDING, IT
CONTINUE TO GET WORSE IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WE SAW IN
DENVER, $.60 A MILE, DRIVERS
ARE GETTING IN THE BAY AREA,
$.80 A MILE.
IN LOS ANGELES, $.80 A MILE.
THESE ARE MARKET MARKETS WHERE
THE COST OF LIVING IS EVERY BIT
AS HIGH AS IT IS HERE.
AND I DON'T HESITATE TO PUSH
THE PAY DOWN THERE.
$.80 A MILE.
SO, WE KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL
IS.
AND IT CAN GET WORSE.
IN THE LEAD UP TO UBER'S IP,
THEY CUT OUR PAY TWICE, AND
THEN THE PERSPECTIVES TO THEIR
SHAREHOLDERS, POTENTIAL
SHAREHOLDERS, THEY STATED THAT
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING A HIGH
LEVEL OF DRIVERS DISCONTENT.
THEY EXPECTED THAT DISCONTENT
TO CONTINUE, DUE TO ONGOING
REDUCTION TO DIRECT DRIVERS
INCENTIVES TO GET MORE PROFIT.
PRODUCTION OF DRIVERS
INCENTIVES, THAT IS CUTTING OUR
PAY TO GET FURTHER PAY FOR THE
SHAREHOLDERS.
SO, THE SITUATION WE ARE IN NOW
IS GOING TO GET WORSE.
WE REALLY HAVE TO DEPEND ON YOU
GUYS TO STEP IN AS THE
REGULATORY AUTHORITY, WHICH YOU
ARE.
AND ASSERT YOUR AUTHORITY OVER,
YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE PAY PART
OF IT.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, DON.
[ APPLAUSE ].
>> YEAH McKAY, AND THEN ON IT
MOHAMMED.
>> HUMOR?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, MY NAME
IS YAMMER ANDRES.
I AM A DRIVER FOR SEVEN YEARS
AND EIGHT MONTHS.
MY GREAT CONCERN AT THIS TIME
IS DRIVERS PAY CUT, AND RISING
UBER AND LYFT COMMISSION.
WE STOPPED WITH AN 8020 RATIO,
AND INCREASED TO 75 TO 25.
INCREASE FOR UBER DECREASE FOR
DRIVERS.
NOW WE ARE AT 60/40% RATIO.
ON THE OTHER HAND, COST OF
LIVING, AND OPERATING THE
BUSINESS HAS BEEN RISING FASTER
THAN EVER.
WE KNOW RIDERS PAY FAIR AMOUNT
FOR THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE, BUT
UBER AND LIFT ARE HIDING
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT-- PORTION OF
THE MONEY, FROM DRIVERS AND
THEY ARE KEEPING IT FOR
THEMSELVES.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO STOP THEM.
FROM EXPLOITING, AND STEALING
FROM THE DRIVERS EARNING.
WE NEED-- IF I MAY GIVE ONE
SIMPLE FACT, FLAT RATE TO AND
FROM DOWNTOWN AIRPORT, STARTED
WITH $50.
DRIVERS GET 40, AND HUBER GETS
10.
FLAT RATE INCREASED 72 $55,
DRIVERS GET $41.25.
UBER IS NOW CHARGING $64.90.
AND NO PENNY IS INCREASED FOR
DRIVERS.
AND, SAME GOES LIKE UBER SUV,
AND FLAT RATE, DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
VIEW.
THEY ARE EXPLOITING, AND
STEALING OUR COMMISSIONS.
SO UBER COMMISSION ROSE FROM
$10 TO 22
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU-
-
>> THANK YOU FOR MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
JAKE ON IT AND-- [ APPLAUSE ]
>> HELLO, I AM JAKE, I HAVE
BEEN A 4.95 START UBER FOR FOUR
AND HALF YEARS, I AM GIVING
CLOSE TO 10,000 TRIPS.
I HAVE MADE SUB MINIMUM WAGE,
AFTER EXPENSES EVERY YEAR I
HAVE WORKED FOR THEM.
MOST COMPANIES ONLY REWARD
WORKERS WHO STICK WITH THEM
THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT I HAVE
NEVER GOTTEN A PAY RAISE.
FROM UBER OR LEFT, IN FACT, I
HAVE ONLY GOTTEN PAY CUTS FROM
THEM, WHETHER PERMANENT, FOUR
PER MILE DECREASES, OR IN THE
FORM OF PERCENTAGES.
IN FACT, JUST RECENTLY LYFT
STARTED HIDING FROM US, THE
DRIVERS, THE AMOUNT THE
PASSENGER PAYS FOR RIGHT,
GIVING THEM FREE REIGN TO TAKE
EVEN MORE FROM US DRIVERS ON
EVERY FARE.
AND IN THEIR STOCK, LETTER TO
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, AS DAWN MENTIONED,
UBER SAYS WE AND TO DECREASE
DRIVER INCENTIVES, SO THE
COMPANIES ARE OPENLY ANNOUNCING
TO CUT OUR PAY EVEN MORE, AND
WE CANNOT LET THIS STAND.
WE DRIVERS NEED AND DESERVE
THIS FAIR SHARE LEGAL PLAN,
WHICH WILL LEGALLY MANDATE A
PAY RAISE FOR DRIVERS, AND GIVE
US LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST
UNFAIR DEACTIVATION'S.
WE DRIVERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF
THESE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR
CORPORATE COMPANIES, AND AFTER
EXPENSES, LITERALLY GET PAID
THE LOW MINIMUM WAGE, A
STARVATION WAGE.
I CAN ONLY AFFORD MY BELOW
MARKET APARTMENT, IN SEATTLE,
BY SPLITTING IT WITH MY
PARTNER.
MEANWHILE, THE UBER CORE
FOUNDER HAS A WORTH OF OVER
$43 BILLION AND RECENTLY BOUGHT
THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOME EVER
SOLD.
IF THE COMPANY'S LEADERSHIP CAN
TAKE BILLIONS, WE AT LEAST
DESERVE A MINIMUM WAGE AFTER
COVERED EXPENSES, WE AT LEAST
DESERVE SICK PAY, BASIC JOB
SECURITY, BASIC PROTECTION
AGAINST DEACTIVATION, SO PLEASE
PASS THIS SET OF LAWS.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ON IT, THEN ABOUT IRAN AND
ADAM A BAKER A BAKER.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMMBERS, MY
NAME IS AHMED, AND I AM IN AN
UBER DRIVER, AND ALSO
REPRESENTING SEATTLE RIGHTS
DRIVERS ASSOCIATION.
THE FIRST ASSOCIATION OF DRIVERS
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
REGISTERED WITH THE SECRETARY
OF STATE.
IN AUGUST 26, 2014.
UBER AND ALEX TSIMERMAN 34
LYFT HAVE BEEN MAKING MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OFF OF OUR WORK, YET
MANY DRIVERS ARE IN DEEP
POVERTY, AND CONTINUE TO GROW
DESPERATE, THERE ARE DRIVERS
LIVING AND SLEEPING INSIDE OF
THEIR VEHICLES.
OTHERS HAVE TROUBLE PAYING
THEIR RENTS, EVERY MONTH.
BECAUSE OF RISING COST OF
LIVING, THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
SOME DRIVERS ARE FORCED TO LEAVE
VERY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR
WORKING AREA, IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE IN THE AREA WHERE MOST
OF THEIR RIGHTS ARE.
THIS PUTS A DRIVER IN A HARSH
TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE.
FORCING MANY OF TO COMMUTE
SEVERAL HOURS EVERY DAY.
THE DRIVERS RECOGNIZE THAT OUR
REGION IS FACING A HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, AND THE
DRIVERS ARE NOT SPARED.
MANY DRIVERS WILL FORM TAXICAB
DRIVERS, WHO OWN TAXI
MEDALLIONS.
THEIR PRIMARY LIFE INVESTMENT.
AND THEY HAVE LOST ALL OF THEIR
MONEY.
TAXI DRIVERS VOTED HUGE SUMS OF
MONEY TO BUY THEIR MEDALLIONS,
THROUGHOUT OUR LIFETIME, SEATTLE
DRIVERS SURE ASSOCIATION HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH DRIVERS.
FOR INSTANCE, MANY OF THE
DRIVERS ARE IMMIGRANT AND
FAMILIES, HAVE FAMILIES BACK
HOME.
THEY HAVE EVEN A LOT OF
PROBLEMS GIVING BACK TO THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE SUGGESTING
SOLIDARITY, A RESOURCE CENTER
FOR THE DRIVERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING, AND
A COLLECTIVE DRIVER ADVOCACY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE-- GIVE THE MONEY TO
THE DRIVERS.
>> THANK YOU.
ABOUT.
[ APPLAUSE ] AT THEM, AND THEN
ROY COOPER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ABOUT.
>> BRINGS MIKE DUNN THERE.
>> MY NAME IS LUBA, I AM ONE OF
THE DRIVERS.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS JOB
THREE AND HALF YEARS, I AM A
FULL-TIME.
A MOTHER OF FOUR KIDS.
THE CAR IS MINE, COMMITMENTS
AND EVERYTHING.
THE OVERCHARGE US, I MEAN THE
INSURANCE, AND I HAVE TO PAY MY
BUSINESS INSURANCE ON MYSELF.
AND THE DEAL WAS, I MEAN, WHEN
I SIGNED THE CONTRACT, THE
CONTRACT WAS 25%, BUT WHEN I
SAY MY STATEMENT, THE OVER AND
LIFT THEY DID MORE THAN 40
PERCENTAGE, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY-- WE DON'T
HAVE ANY RIGHTS AT ALL, I MEAN
WE DON'T HAVE A FAIR PAY, WE
DON'T HAVE ANY SO, THAT'S, I
MEAN SO, THANK YOU FOR YOU
GUYS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOU
LISTENING.
SO, THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ADAM.
AFTER ADAM IS RICK COOPER, AND
AFTER RICK WE HAVE DUSTIN LIBRA.
>> YEAH, MY NAME IS-- THANK YOU
FOR CITY OF SEATTLE.
COUNSEL, I HAVE-- I AM TRYING
TO, I HAVE BEEN WORKING SAY
FOUR-YEAR SINCE 2014, 2016.
I WAS IN AN INCIDENT THAT THE
NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED DRIVING
WITH HUBER, ONE OF THE DRUNK GUY
HE, HE HIT ME ON MY FIST LIKE
SEVEN TIMES.
YOU KNOW, I WAS MY SECOND STAY
DRIVING.
AND THE GUY, HE, I AM PICKING
UP HIS GIRLFRIEND TO DROPPING
OFF TO HIS ADDRESS, HE PUNCHED
ME ON MY FACE.
I DIDN'T THOUGHT BECAUSE AT
THAT TIME, I DON'T KNOW THE
POLICY, I DIDN'T START YOU
KNOW, I'M A NEW GUY.
AND THEN, BEFORE I DROP OFF, HE
COMES OUT, AND THEN I GO OUT OF
THAT AREA, AND THEN I CALL THE
POLICE, POLICE COME THEY DIDN'T
DO NOTHING.
JUST I AM TRYING TO SEND MY
MESSAGE WE ARE DRIVERS, WE NEED
SUPPORT WE-- AT THAT TIME I
TOLD UBER, AND UBER, THEY
DIDN'T DO NOTHING.
UNTIL NOW, MY MY JIG IS
SWALLOWED UNTIL NOW, I AM A
FATHER OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRL, SHE
IS NOT HERE.
BUT BACK, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO
SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
I HAVE TO WORK, THAT IS WHY I
DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
I DIDN'T GO, YES I STILL AND
DRIVING WITH UBER.
THEY TOLD ME TO PICK FROM
EVERYWHERE TO DROP OFF TO
AIRPORT, THEY TOLD ME TO PICK
UP FROM AIRPORT, AND DROP OFF I
AM WORKING.
THAT IS MY FIRST TIME JOB.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER JOB.
BECAUSE THAT WAY IF I DON'T
WORK, I DON'T DROP TO AIRPORT,
I DON'T MAKE MONEY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO
LET PEOPLE KNOW.
BECAUSE UBER THEY DON'T DO
NOTHING TO US.
YOU GO TO THEIR OFFICE, THEY
DON'T HELP US.
THAT MY MESSAGE.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> RICK COOPER, DUSTIN, AND
KELSEY MEASURE, AND AFTER THAT
ON IT LOOMING.
>> SLIGHT DETOUR INTO ANOTHER A
STOCK ISSUE.
I AM RICK COOPER, PRESIDENT OF
A UPTOWN ALLIANCE, BUT I AM
DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY, TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A MUCH
LARGER, AND GROWING COALITION
OF DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORTING THE NEWLY UPDATED,
AND MUCH MORE ROBUST THOMAS
STREET GREENWOOD PLAN.
'S THOMAS STREET GREENWAY IS AN
OLD, RECENTLY RESCUED PLAN, AND
BROUGHT O SIGNIFICANT NEW LIFE.
THANKS TO CRITICALLY NEEDED
EFFORTS, BY COUNCILMEMBER BACK,
FOCUSED ON A CRITICAL POTENTIL
PEDESTRIAN BIKING LINK TO
TRANSIT CORRIDOR CONNECTING TO
SEATTLE CENTER, A REGIONAL
ASSET.
HUGE THANKS ALSO TO A STOCK,
AND SEATTLE CENTER PLAN, COMING
TOGETHER FOR A MUCH BETTER
PLAN, TO CREATE INTENSE ENERGY
AND ENVISIONING.
BUT OUR COLLECTIVE WORK HAS
BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, OVER THE
PAST THREE MONTHS, THAT WE ARE
NOW READY FOR A CRITICAL LOOK
AT BUDGET ISSUES.
URGENT NEED AND OPPORTUNITY. WE
HAVE SEVERAL NEARBY AND
ADJACENT OPPORTUNITIES RAPIDLY
PLANNING NEW PROJECTS AND READY
TO CONTRIBUTE, HERE IS OUR
SUPPORT LETTER, WE ARE STILL
ADDING SIGNATURES, AS OUR
COALITION GROWS, WE ARE
PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION OVER
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
WE ARE EAGER, AND ANXIOUS TO
HELP SUPPORT A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, RICK.
DUSTIN LIBRA, KELSEY AHMED, AND
AUDIE.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, HAPPY
FRIDAY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS BUDGET, AND
PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR INTENTION
TO ALL OF THESE DETAILS.
RELATED TO TNC'S.
I AM HERE TODAY, IN MY
CAPACITY, AS PRESIDENT OF THE
KING COUNTY LABOR COUNCIL.
BECAUSE MLK LABOR IS ONE OF THE
EARLIEST COALITION PARTNERS, AS
PART OF THE FAIR SHARE
COALITION, AND IN JUST A FEW
SHORT WEEKS, SINCE THE MAYOR
ANNOUNCED THE FAIR SHARE PLAN,
OVER 60 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
SIGNED ON TO THIS PARTICULAR
PLAN.
TO, AS YOU HEARD TODAY, FROM
THE CENTRAL STAFF, IT IS
INCREDIBLY DIVERSE, INCLUDES
MLK LABOR, TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES COALITION, THE KING
COUNTY DEMOCRATS, ONE AMERICA,
SEATTLE BUILDING TRADES, AND
COUNTLESS OTHERS.
MORE THAN 60.
SO, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF
THAT, WE FEEL VERY GOOD AT THE
MOMENT, THEN WE HAVE FELT IN
JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS SINCE
THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THIS PLAN.
AND FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT
PASSING THIS IN NOVEMBER, AND
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ALL AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK ON IT, AND LET'S
GET TO WORK IT APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
KELSEY AHMED.
AND THEN AUGUST THE.
KELSEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND KELSEY
MEASURE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION, I THINK MANY OF YOU
KNOW, WE ADVOCATE FOR MORE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES AND
THINK A LOT ABOUT HOW OUR
SYSTEM WORKS.
AND, I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY,
WE HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT
HOW COMPANIES, BIG COMPANIES
LIKE UBER AND LYFT ARE
IMPACTING OUR SYSTEM, BUT I'M
HERE TODAY TO SAY WE HAVE
ABSOLUTELY NO RESERVATIONS
ABOUT STANDING WITH OUR LABOR
PARTNERS TO STAND UP FOR BETTER
PROTECTIONS FOR DRIVERS AND FOR
A PATH FOR THEM TO MAKE A
LIVING WAGE.
THESE OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, WHO
ARE GIVING US RIDES, AND
KEEPING US SAFE, IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE TREATED
WITH DIGNITY, AND EARNING, AND
A LIVING WAGE.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS
LEGISLATION DOES A LOT MORE
THAN THAT, IT ALSO IS GOING TO
HELP US ADDRESS SOME OF OUR
URGENT ISSUES, AROUND MOBILITY
AND AFFORDABILITY, BY FUNDING
OUR STREETCAR PROJECT, WHICH IS
GOING TO CARRY 20,000 PEOPLE
PER DAY.
PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION.
AND ALSO PROVIDING CRITICAL
FUNDING TO BUILDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, NEAR TRANSIT.
SO WORKING FAMILIES WILL BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE OPTION TO, YOU
KNOW, NOT HAVE A CAR IF THEY
WANT TO.
AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS JOBS,
OPORTUNITIES AND SCHOOLS.
SO, I STAND WITH THE FAIR SHARE
COALITION, THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO, WE HAVE AHMED, AND
AUDIE, AND JULIE DAVIS.
>> I AM OUT OF CHAIR, PRESIDENT
OF COUNSEL, MEMBER OF THE
COUNCIL'S, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ABDI CHARETTE,
REPRESENTATIVE OF DRIVER
ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE PROPOSING THAT
LEGISLATION WE ARE HERE TODAY
SUGGESTION OF THE DRIVERS IS
HERE IS BETTER THAN PREVENTION.
THE RESOLUTION OF THIS.
WE ARE, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT
DRIVER SOLIDARITY RESOURCE
MEMBERSHIP TRAINING FOR THE E
DRIVERS FOR REGISTRATION FAMILY
ASSISTANCE. THE CENTERS RUN BY
THE DRIVERS, DEMOCRATICALLY,
AND WE ARE ASKING FOR THE MONEY
WHICH HAS BEEN COLLECTING TO BE
GIVEN THE DRIVERS.
WE KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR
DRIVERS, THEY CAME FROM TAXI,
AND LIMOUSINE SERVICE.
AND THEY LOST THEIR INVESTMENT.
SO IF ANY FUNDING BEING
COLLECTED, WE ASK PLEASE TO BE
THE DRIVER HAS TO BE
BENEFICIALLY, NOT ON SOURCING
FROM VARIOUS ENTITY.
AND NOT DUPLICATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALSO, ONE MORE EDITION,
PLEASE WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST
THE CITY COUNCIL IN FUTURE FOR
THE LEGISLATION ON FRIDAY.
IS ONE OF THE PUBLIC MUSLIM
HOLIDAY.
THERE ARE MORE DRIVERS WHO
MIGHT BE HERE TODAY, LIKE US,
WE GET A CHANCE, IF WE CAN
AVOID THAT.
AND THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
THE LAST TIME THE HOLIDAY WAS
TNC, THE PRESIDENT CAN STOP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO WE HAVE OPTED, THEN JULIE
DAVIS, AND ISHMAEL.
>> I'M JULIE DAVIS.
--
>> BEFORE WE GET GOING DO WE
HAVE AUDI?
>> I ALREADY SPEAK.
>> OH, AND ONE BEHIND.
ARTEMAS WE HAVE JULIE, IS MALE,
AND KATIE GRANT.
>> SO, MY NAME IS JULIE DAVIS,
I HAVE BEEN A DRIVER FOR OVER
TWO AND HALF YEARS, 4.96 ON
UBER.
FIVE-STAR OMELETTE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS
ASSOCIATION TO MY WORK WITH
SOME OF THE BROTHERS HERE, AND
WHAT WE REALLY NEED AS PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THE DRIVERS
RESOURCE IN SOLIDARITY CENTER.
WHAT WE NEED THAT FOR HIS WE
NEEDED TO BE RUN BY THE
DRIVERS, FOR THE DRIVERS,
BECAUSE UBER AND LYFT YOU ARE A
NUMBER AND A COMMODITY.
IF YOU GO TO THEM WITH A
PROBLEM, YOU ARE NOT GETTING
ANY RESOURCES, ANY HELP.
THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR US.
SO, IF WE CAN GET THIS, WE CAN
HAVE SOME OF THE NECESSARY
THINGS.
WHEN WE GET IN AN ACCIDENT, WE
CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ANOTHER
VEHICLE.
WE CAN'T-- WE DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A CAR, WE
DON'T WORK, WE CAN'T MAKE
MONEY.
WE CAN'T PAY RENT.
I'M STUCK IN A SITUATION WHERE
I CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE, WITH
THE RISING COSTS OF DISTRICT 5,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS
HAPPENING ON IT, I'M STUCK.
SO THESE ARE SITUATIONS LIKE
MYSELF CAN BE A BENEFICIAL FOR,
AND SOME OF THE OTHER BROTHERS
AS WELL, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE TRAINING FOR THE DRIVERS,
AND, AND TO GET OVER SOME OF
THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS THEY HAVE
THROUGH BEING FROM THE
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
I FEEL A LITTLE NERVOUS.
>> YOU ARE DOING GREAT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> BUT, YEAH, IF WE COULD JUST
GET SOLIDARITY, AND RESOURCE
CENTER THAT IS RUN BY THE
DRIVERS DEMOCRATICALLY, THAT
WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, INSTEAD OF
HAVING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS
LIKE TO BE A DRIVER.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IS MALE, I HAVE GOT ONE
AHEAD OF YOU, ISHMAEL, AT
NUMBER 16, O'DELL? NO, IS MALE,
IF YOU ARE HERE, COULD YOU
RAISE YOUR HAND, JUST SO I
COULD SEE?
OKAY, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY BY
THAT NAME ARE RESPONDING, SO
NICOLE, AND KATIE, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
YEAH.
YEAH, GET A BUNCH OF THEM
APPEAR, AND SO, WE HAVE GOT
>> THEY WILL GET UP HERE IN A
SECOND.
>> WE WILL GET IT, AND THERE IS
STILL A FEW PEOPLE, A FEW
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP ON
THAT ONE.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELCOME
NICOLE, KATIE, GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARRELL, COUNCILMEMBERS NICOLE
GRANT, FROM MLK LABOR, AND I AM
STANDING HERE PROUDLY WITH MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHO ARE
RIDES SHARE DRIVERS.
WE ARE PART OF A COALITION OF
60+ ORGANIZATIONS THAT BELIEVE
THAT WORKERS RIGHTS, AND A
COLLECTIVE VOICE NEED TO BE ON
THE TABLE FOR UBER DRIVERS.
AND WE THINK THAT THE POLICY
THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
IT IS GOOD FOR THE DRIVERS, IT
IS GOOD FOR ALL WORKERS, IN OUR
CITY, WHO NEED TRANSIT ADJACENT
HOUSING, IT IS GOOD FOR OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, GLOBALLY.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT,
THIS IS KATIE.
>> HI, MY MESSAGES REALLY
DIRECTED AT THE DRIVERS, I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STANDING
UP TODAY.
YOU ALL ARE JOINING A RICH AND
HISTORIC TRADITION IN THE UNION
MOVEMENT OF DEMANDING A FAIR
RETURN ON YOUR WORK.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU
ARE NOT ALONE IN THE UNION
MOVEMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE
TRADITION OF SOLIDARITY.
AND SOLIDARITY MEANS YOU'LL
NEVER FIGHT ALONE AGAIN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY, MR. VAN . AS I HAVE
HEARD, IT LOOKS LIKE ARRAN
ANDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, I AM
CHAIRMAN PRESIDENT, CEO OF NET
CORD TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
TAXI DISTRICT INDUSTRY FOR 12
YEARS OR MORE.
CITY POLICY OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS HAS DECIMATED THE INCOMES
, AND SAVINGS FOR HIRED DRIVERS.
TAXI FOR HIRE, TNC.
NOW, THE CITY WANTS TO TAKE THE
PASSENGER FARES, THESE DRIVERS
EARNED, TO FUND WHAT?
STREETCARS?
HOUSING?
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT HELP
DRIVER INCOME.
THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT REGULATE
UBER OR LYFT, IT IS VOLUNTARY.
THE ONLY VOLUNTARY THING UBER
AND LYFT HAVE DONE.
I BEEN AROUND SINCE THEY HAVE
BEEN AROUND.
IS DRIVE DRIVER INCOME INTO
THE GROUND.
IF THE PROPOSAL, THAT IS WAY
THEY SAY THIS, IF THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE YOU DOES ANYTHING, OTHER
THAN PUT CASH MONEY DIRECTLY
INTO FOR HIRE DRIVERS POCKETS,
MY COMPANY NOT CAR, WE WILL
SPONSOR AN INITIATIVE TO REPEAL
IT.
PATTERNED AFTER INITIATIVE 91,
WHICH WAS THE SUCCESSFUL
CHALLENGE TO MONEY FOR THE
SONICS, AND THOSE BILLIONAIRES.
THE FAIR SHARE INITIATIVE WILL
REPEAL THE ORDINANCE, RESTRICT
USE OF ANY TAX ON FOR HIGHER
RATES, TO THE OFFSETTING OF FOR
HIRE VEHICLE DRIVER OPERATIONAL
EXPENSE, AND NOTHING ELSE.
REQUIRE THE CITY TO SET MINIMUM
FOR HIRE PASSENGER RATES AT NO
LESS THAN THREE TIMES THE IRS
ALLOWED EXPENSE DEDUCTION FOR
MILEAGE, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT A
DOLLAR 74 PER MILE.
PLUS WAIT TIME.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE CITY'S-- FOR HIRE
DRIVERS IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG,
HAS THE CITY OF SEATTLE NO
SHAME?
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE
DRIVER INCOME, IT IS GOING TO
STAY DOWN HERE, BUT YOU ARE
TAKING THE MONEY.
THAT IS WRONG.
>> MR. VAN . [ APPLAUSE ]
>> ANNA, AND THEN ARRAN
ANDERSEN, AND THEN JESSE MOORE.
IT LOOKS LIKE JESSE HAS A GROUP.
>> ANNA ZERO HOURS, AND PROGRAM
DIRECTOR ROOTED IN RIGHTS AND
DISABILITY RIGHTS IN
WASHINGTON, AND WE ARE PART OF
THE FAIR SHARE COALITION, WE
SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.
AND, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING LATELY, AMONG
DISABILITY GROUPS, I WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT THE TNC'S ARE TRYING
TO PITCH THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY AGAINST OUR LABOR,
AND COMMUNITY ALLIES.
AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND
FOR THAT.
THEY ARE LYING ABOUT THE
SUPPORT THEY HAVE FROM THE
DISABILITY COMMUNITY, I AM A
MEMBER OF A NATIONAL BLIND
ORGANIZATION, THAT DOES NOT
SUPPORT LYFT, AND YET LYFT SAYS
THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE THE
SUPPORT FOR THE TNC TEXT.
OUR GROUP IS FRUSTRATED THAT
TNC DID NOT PROVIDE WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES WITH UBER
AND LYFT VEHICLES IN SEATTLE.
SO WE WILL BE STANDING WITH OUR
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT WITH
TRANSPORTATION THAT SERVES OUR
COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WE
NEED TO STAND UP AND BE CLEAR
WITH LYFT AND UBER THAT THEY
CAN'T PUT OUR COMMUNITY
AGAINST LABOR ALLIES.
ALSO, WHILE MY PARTIES ARE COME
I WANT TO SPEAK QUICKLY TO TWO
OTHER PIECES OF THE BUDGET THAT
YOU ARE CONSIDERING TODAY, IN
FAVOR OF THE FUNDING FOR THE
CONNECTION FOR THE NEW AMISH
LONGHOUSE.
I HAVE TRYING TO CROSS MARGINAL
WAYS THERE IS A PEDESTRIAN, IT
IS TERRIFYING, AND APPALLING
THAT OUR GAP IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM EXISTS.
AND ALSO SUPPORTIVE FUNDING FOR
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY AGENDA,
AND THE WORKGROUP, I THINK IT
IS CRITICAL THAT WE RETHINK THE
WAY WE HAVE COMMITTEES, AND THE
WAY IT WORKS IN OUR CITY AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CITY, NOT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TIME TO
VOLUNTEER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, FOR COMING, AND
APPEARED ARRAN ANDERSEN, AND
AFTER AARON IS JESSE, AND THEN
DENNIS LEWIS.
HI.
>> HI, I'M ARRAN ANDERSEN.
I OWN MY OWN COMPANY, I DON'T
WORK FOR TRAN 33, A CONTRACT
WITH UBER, AND I LOVE THE IDEA
BEHIND WHAT THIS IS TRYING TO
DO.
I JUST THINK THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF IT IS COMPLETELY WRONG.
I BELIEVE THAT TAKING THE MONEY
FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND PUTTING
IT INTO PUBLIC TRANSIT IS GOING
TO PRODUCE LESS WRITERS FOR
UBER AND LIFT, THEREBY
DECREASING THE ACTUAL INCOME
THAT DRIVERS ARE MAKING.
I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
SHORTSIGHTED, AND WE NEED TO
LOOK A LITTLE MORE LONG-TERM AT
IT, I LOVE WHAT IT IS TRYING TO
DO I JUST DON'T THINK THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF IT, OR HOW IT
IS BEING DONE IS CORRECT.
I MAKE PLENTY OF MONEY TO LIVE,
I PAY FOR MY CAR, I PAY FOR MY
RENT, MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE
GOING TO GO SEE CINDERELLA
OPERA THIS SUNDAY, SO IF I AM
MAKING LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE,
HOW AM I DOING THOSE THINGS?
I MAKE PLENTY OF MONEY, I WILL
NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOU
GUYS ARE SUGGESTING, BECAUSE I
WOULDN'T BE IN THAT CATEGORY.
AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE
RETHOUGHT, AT HOW THIS IS GOING
TO BE DONE.
AND THEN I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
SIGN UP FOR IT, BUT I
DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE NEED
TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND RELOOK
AT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, AS
OPPOSED TO JUST RUSHING FORWARD
AND SAYING YES, LET'S HELP
DRIVERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE GOT THREE
NOW, JESSE MOORE, AND YOU WANT
TO PUT FIVE MINUTES UP THERE
FOR THEM?
THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU CAN DO IT FASTER
THAN FIVE MINUTES, THAT IS FINE
TOO.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
HI, I AM JESSE MOORE, WITH NEW
AMISH KELLY STREETS, AND I'M
JOINED BY BOB WINSHIP, FROM
WEST SEATTLE AT CONNECTIONS AND
DR. JEFFREY PERKINS, CONSULTANT
TO THE NEW AMISH TRIED.
AND, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT
MEMBERS OF THE NEW AMISH TRIED,
WHO ARE SICK REQUESTING $2
MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, FOR THE NEW
AMISH LONGHOUSE SAFE STREET,
AND ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT.
THE LONGHOUSE OPENED IN 2009,
AND IS THE CULTURAL CENTER FOR
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE PUGET
SAILORS REGION.
PUBLIC COMMUNITY EVENTS OFTEN
USE THE LONGHOUSE, AND THE TWO
PARKS, ERIC'S HOUSE, AND T107
DIRECTLY ACROSS MARGINAL WAY
107 SOUTH.
THE T107 PARK IS PART OF
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PLACES AND
IS A NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITE THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE TO
THE NEW AMISH TRIED.
IT IS NOT SERVED BY TRANSIT, SO
PEOPLE DRIVING TO EVENTS,
PARKED ACROSS THE STREET IN THE
PARK'S PARKING LOT WILL OTHERS
COME BY BICYCLE USING THE NEW
AMISH TRAIL.
IT IS NOT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO
WALK BETWEEN THE PARKS, THE
PARKING LOT, THE TRAIL IN THE
LONGHOUSE.
CROSSING HERE IMPOSES AN EVEN
BIGGER OBSTACLE FOR PEOPLE WITH
MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
IT CAN FEEL REALLY SCARY, LIKE
YOU ARE QUOTE TRYING TO CROSS A
HIGHWAY LIKE I-FIVE, WHERE
DRIVERS DON'T EXPECT TO
ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WITH MARGINAL
HAS FIVE LANES, HEAVY TRUCKS,
AND TRAFFIC SPEEDS REGULARLY
EXCEED 50 MILES PER HOUR.
THE NEW AMISH TRIED APPLIED TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND IN
2018 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM
AND IT WAS SUPPORTED BY A
STRONG MAJORITY OF LEADERS, AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS UNFORTUNATELY
THE PROJECTS THAT EXCEEDED THE
LIMITS, AND COULDN'T BE FUNDED
BY THAT PROGRAM.
THANKFULLY THOUGH, THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HAS TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO
CREATE A DESIGN CONCEPT AND A
COST ESTIMATE TO BUILD A SAFE
AND ACCESSIBLE CROSSING,
BETWEEN THE LONGHOUSE, AND
ASSETS, AND EAST SIDE OF THE
STREET.
AND THIS DESIGN WOULD ALSO
CREATE A SAFE BUS LOADING, AND
A PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF THE
LONGHOUSE, AND HELP TO REDUCE
TRAFFIC SPEEDS.
ASKED OUT STAFF ESTIMATES THAT,
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AT THE COST OF
$2 MILLION, INCLUDING
CONTINGENCIES.
THE GREAT NEWS IS NOW THERE IS
A $2 MILLION SOLUTION TO THIS
10-YEAR-OLD PROBLEM.
AND ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR THAT
SOLUTION TO'S SUCCEED IS TO
PLACE THE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR
THIS PROJECT IN THE CITY'S 2020
BUDGET.
AND I HOPE YOU BELIEVE, AS I DO
THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
AND IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE ONE
SIMPLE WAY TO SHOW THANKS TO
THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE OUR CITY
BOTH ITS NAME, AND THE LAND
THAT IT IS BUILT ON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM BOB WINSHIP, WITH WEST
SEATTLE FLIGHT CONNECTIONS, WE
ARE ONE OF THE 12 NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THIS
REQUEST FOR FUNDING.
A MAN OUR ACTIVITIES IS AN
ANNUAL RIGHT TO HISTORICAL
SITES IN WEST SEATTLE.
OPERATION IN SOUTHWEST SEATTLE.
THIS YEAR'S RIDE, VISITED
COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES.
AT THE NEW AMISH LONGHOUSE.
ALTHOUGH, THERE ARE NO BUS
CONNECTIONS IT IS EASILY
ACCESSIBLE BY BICYCLE, AND THE
WEST AMISH TRAIL, OR AT LEAST
IT SHOULD BE.
HOWEVER, AS JESSE EXPLAINED,
THE LACK OF A PROTECTIVE
CROSSING, DIZZY, WIDE, WEST
MARGINAL WAY MAKE THIS TOO
DANGEROUS FOR A LARGE GROUP,
INCLUDING YOUNG INEXPERIENCED
CYCLISTS.
WE RELUCTANTLY DROPPED THE
LONGHOUSE FROM OUR TOUR.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT THIS PROJECT
WOULD HELP OVERCOME.
IT WOULD MAKE THE LONGHOUSE
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE,
AND IS SHARED BY ALL
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
AS IS EVIDENCED BY THE WAGERING
SUPPORT. I URGE YOU TO INCLUDE
FUNDING IN THIS YEAR'S PROJECT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM DR. PERKINS, I'VE BEEN
WITH THE HOMAGE FOR THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I AM JUST
HERE TO REINFORCE WHAT I SAID
THE LAST TIME.
KING COUNTY COUNCILMAN
GENTLEMAN DORMAN HAS MANDATED
THAT THE HOUSE IS A REGIONAL
ASSET, I HOLD IN MY HAND, RIGHT
HERE, MONEY THEY GET FROM ALL
OF THE WORLD, PEOPLE WHO HAVE
VISITED THEM.
THIS JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE
$300,000 IN TENS, OF COURSE, SO
THEY SOLD SOME PICTURES,
BECAUSE THEY WANTED PICTURES OF
THE CHIEF, AND THEY COULDN'T
HAVE REALLY AFFORDED IT.
ONE DAY IF I GO TO TENS IN
THERE, I WILL BE A RICH MAN.
BUT ANYWAY, WE NEED TO SUPPORT
THIS, BECAUSE ONLY IN PERUGIA
ITALY, THIS IS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, IS THERE A FAN, A 28
FOOT FAN, BY MARVIN OLIVER,
SCULPTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, NATIVE AMERICAN,
WHO PASSED JUST RECENTLY, THAT
FAN IS ON THE SOIL OF PERUGIA,
IT IS THE ONLY NATIVE AMERICAN
SOIL FROM SEATTLE TO PERUGIA,
AND LAST DECEMBER, A PEACEFUL,
NOW IN FRONT OF THEIR PERSIAN
MARKET, AND THERE IS A PIECE
PULLED IN THE NEW AMISH
LONGHOUSE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER
BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE
ISLAND.
SO, ANYWAY, WE NEED TO SUPPORT
THIS INITIATIVE, BECAUSE THEY
HAVE OVER 50,000 PEOPLE HAVE
VISITED THERE, UNDER THESE
UNSAFE CONDITIONS, SCHOOLKID
COME FROM EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
CONTINUE TO COME TO THE DORMS
LONGHOUSE, THERE ARE CHIEF
SEATTLE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE BEEN
HERE SINCE THE GLASS GLACIER
ICE AGE, IT HAS BEEN THERE
FOLKLORE, AND EVERYWHERE.
AND WE STAND FOR THE NEW AMISH
AS A PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU THREE FOR COMING DOWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M DENNIS
LEWIS.
I'VE BEEN IN UBER DRIVER FOR
NEARLY 5 YEARS.
I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE A JOB,
BECAUSE I WAS DISABLED, THEY
GAVE ME OFF DISABILITY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
RIDE-SHARE FOR DOING THAT FOR
ME AT LEAST.
THIS THING HAS REALLY GOT ME
TORN.
I CAME IN, AND I HEARD ALL OF
THE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
BUT ANYTHING THAT CAN BENEFIT
OUR DRIVERS AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, I AM ALL FOR.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO COME IN
AND GIVE MY TWO CENTS, BECAUSE
I COULD BE OUT THERE MAKING
MONEY RIGHT NOW, IT COST ME $44
TO PARK TODAY.
>> WOW.
>> THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
FOR US DRIVERS.
SO, BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THIS
$.51 PER RIDE IS ENOUGH, IS
THERE ANY GUARANTEE IT IS GOING
TO STAY AT $.51?
PER RIDE?
OUR WRITERS DON'T EVEN GET TO
SEE SOMEONE COME I WISH THEY
WOULD HAVE A SAY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I CAME HERE TO
SAY TO GIVE MY LITTLE TWO CENTS.
IS JUST AN ORDINARY JOE.
ALL THOSE ORDINARY JOE'S OUT
THERE WE MUST HAVE A VOICE IN
ALL THESE DEBATES SO, I THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING DENNIS.
ERIC PATTERSON AND ONLY GO TO
MOTO.
SPECTRAL PATTERS AND I WERE TWO
CAPS HERE.
I RECEIVED A CALL LATE LAST
NIGHT, FROM SOMEONE SAYING THEY
WERE UBER.
AND UBER'S NEVER CALL ME, BUT
THEY ASKED ME TO COME AND
TESTIFY HERE AGAIN, TESTIFIED
TWICE BEFORE.
I WILL START FIRST WITH THE
PROFESSIONAL.
CAPACITY.
SOCIAL SCIENTIST, HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I COLLECTED DATA.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU JUST
SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE SO WE
CAN ALL HEAR YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> I COLLECT DATA.
I STARTED WITH HUBER HERE UBER,
LIKE I SAID, UBER DOESN'T CALL
ANYBODY.
EVERYTHING IS DONE INSIDE THIS
PP.
I CALL I CARRY TWO TELEPHONES I
AM REQUIRED TO, ONE FOR
COLLECTING DATA, THE OTHER ONE
FOR PERSONAL USE.
IN UBER'S APP, UBER ASKS US
CERTAIN QUESTIONS.
THIS WAS BEFORE THEY SOLD THE
COMPANY, FOR $90 BILLION.
OKAY?
THINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW.
I HAVE NOTICED.
I HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR A
MONTH, WITHOUT PAY, I HAD
PERSONAL ATTORNEYS, THAT I HAD
TO CALL AND EVEN MY PERSONAL
ATTORNEYS QUIT ON ME.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO UP
AGAINST UBER.
NOW, THAT IS-- MY PERSONAL
STORY HERE FIRST.
AND LIKE I SAID, I COLLECT DATA,
AND PRO-UBER.
AND UBER ASKED ME ALL OF WHAT
I HEARD HAS BEEN GOOD.
VERY GOOD VERY VALID.
EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS
ASKED WHEN I STARTED DRIVING
WITH UBER IS WHY I DRIVE FOR
UBER, AND I WROTE THIS ON MY
UBER PROFILE--
>> DALE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO
ASK YOU TO WRAP UP PLEASE, CAN
YOU JUST GIVE US YOUR LAST
SENTENCE.
>> OKAY, MY LAST SENTENCE HERE,
IS WE, THE DRIVER SHOULDN'T BE
PUNISHED HERE IN SEATTLE FOR
PROVIDING A SERVICE THAT
SEATTLE NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE GOT ERIC, ERIC
MALONEY.
AND THEN NICOLA NOTO.
>> ARE YOU ERIC.
ISHMAEL IT A LOT.
>> I AM ERIC MALONEY.
A
>> I AM SORRY, AND YOU HAVE A
NUMBER?
>> YEAH, YOU CALLED ME.
>> YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE
THAT I CALLED
>> AND YOU ARE ISHMAEL?
OKAY, GOOD, LET'S LET THIS
GENTLEMAN SPEAK AND WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON I'M ERIC
MALONEY, I'M A FULL-TIME WITH
DRIVER, I HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN
9000 RIDES, AND ENJOYED POINT
4.00 WRITING, AND THE 1% EXIT
EXIT THE TRADE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, LIZ
COMPLETED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT
STUDY THAT SAID THAT MORE THAN
HALF OF OUR PASSENGERS IN THE
SEATTLE CITY OF SEATTLE EARN
LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR, THAT
IS THE WORKING POOR.
I AM THE WORKING POOR, EVERY
DAY I AM DRIVING MY PEOPLE LOW
INCOME WORKERS TO AND FROM
THEIR JOBS, BRISTOW'S, FAST
FOOD WORKERS, COOKS, NANNIES,
RETAIL WORKERS, THEY CAN'T
AFFORD A CAR.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO RELY ON
OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
WHICH DOESN'T HAVE MUCH
OVERNIGHT SERVICE, AND ISN'T
PARTICULARLY RELIABLE.
THE MAYOR KEPT ASKED DEAN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT DON'T
HAVE TWO QUARTERS, THEY DON'T
HAVE TO QUARTERS, IF THEY
COMMUTE TO AND FROM EVERY DAY
OF WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK, THAT A
$300 A YEAR EVERY DAY I DRIVE
THESE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IN
THEIR TAX BRACKET TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM, BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT AFFORD 300 BUCKS FOR AN
AMBULANCE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT 300 BUCKS,
HOW DO THEY HAVE THIS 300
BUCKS?
GIVEN THAT, IT STANDS TO REASON
THAT THIS TAX IS MISGUIDED,
REGRESSIVE, UNFAIR, AND IS
PICKING ON THE PEOPLE WHO CAN
LEAST AFFORD IT.
THE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, MAKE THIS CITY THE
GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS.
THESE DON'T PICK ON THEM.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ].
>> THANK YOU.
ISHMAEL, PLEASE GO AHEAD, AND
THE NUMBER--
>> FROM UBER .
>> CAN YOU HOLD FOR JUST A
SECOND, WE ARE HAVING A LITTLE
DIFFICULTY HERE.
WE HAVE GOT NICO'S NUMBER 25,
AND CHRISTINA HERNANDEZ-- GOOD,
THANK YOU, YOU ARE NUMBER 26.
SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE STEP UP TO
A MICROPHONE, YOU WILL BE
THIRD.
PLEASE, NOW GO AHEAD, SORRY TO
INTERRUPT YOU.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, MY NAME ISHMAEL I AM
DRIVING OVER 2017. THE SHORT
ACT.
SHUT DOWN MY APP IN 2017.
I GO OFFICE MANY TIME, THEY
DIDN'T OPEN TO YOU.
I'VE BEEN RENTED 700 ARGO
EXPENSIVE I BUY THIS CAR, NEW
CAR THEY SHUT ME DOWN, THEN I
TAKE CARE OF MY MOM, PASSED
AWAY.
I TAKE CARE OF MY BROTHERS, MY
YOUNG BROTHER, AND MY DAD'S OLD
GUY, ALSO I TAKE CARE OF HIM.
I DON'T HAVE ANY INCOME, THEY
SHUT ME MY APP FOR NO REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> YEAH.
>> I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU
WERE CONCLUDING DID YOU HAVE
SOMETHING ELSE?
>> OKAY.
I AM SAYING LIKE, I DO LIKE SO
MUCH INCOME IF I HAVE SO
EXPENSIVE THEY ARE LIKE, IS IT
MY DAD, MY MOTHER IS PASS AWAY.
MY BROTHER IS YOUNG, I TAKE
CARE OF HIM.
IS IT MY INCOME, I DOING TO
HIM, AND UBER.
IS UBER LIKE SHUT DOWN MY APP.
I AM ASKING COUPLE TIMES THEY
DIDN'T TELL ME WHY.
THEY SHUT DOWN MY APP.
AND THEY ARE LIKE, I BUY ALSO I
WANT TO DRY OUT DRIVE ALSO TO
HUBER.
THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ANY REASON.
I LOSE A LOT OF THING, MY
INCOME IS FROM REASON FOR MOVER.
YEAH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NICO?
>> THANK YOU.
AND CRISTIANO, NEXT AND THEN
JULIE DAVIS HAS ALREADY SPOKEN,
SO I WILL TAKE YOU OFF, AND
STEVE COBIT VERY GOOD, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU CITY
COUNCILMEMBER, MY NAME IS NICO,
I LIVED FOR ABOUT SINCE 2015.
AND THEN I AM SORRY ABOUT MY
LANGUAGE, BECAUSE I HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH MY MOUTH.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU VERY WELL.
>> YEAH, AND I AM PAYING FOR
ABOUT WHAT I USE UNTIL NOW YOU
KNOW?
I DON'T GET WELFARE FROM THE
GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW?
I THINK I AM GOOD ENOUGH JUST
IF YOU INCREASE THE TAX I
BELIEVE I'M GOING TO GET MORE
LESS RIDERS, BECAUSE LAST TIME
I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE HE IS
WALKING IN THIS BUILDING AND
SHE SAY IF SHE HAVE TO PAY MORE
AND SHE WILLING TO DRIVE BECAUSE
HE USED LYFT AND UBER, BECAUSE
YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY PARKING
YOU KNOW, AND SO THIS MY
CONCERN.
AND THEN A GAP FOR HOW MUCH
MINIMUM WAGE, AS AN INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR, I DON'T NEED THE
GAP, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PUT THE
GAP, IS IT IN NEW YORK, $17 AND
50 THEY CANNOT WALK, BECAUSE
THEY PUT A SCHEDULE ON THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
COMING, NICO.
CRISTIANO, AND THEN STEVE
LOVETT, AND THEN A NAME THAT IS-
- I CANNOT READ, NUMBER 29.
POTENTIALLY JEFFREY? RUNNING?
ALL RIGHT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
WE WILL WORK THIS OUT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIANA RUN UNDER
SANDOVAL, I AM A FIVE STAR
RATING, WITH NEARLY 2500
RIGHTS, AND IT IS MY FULL-TIME
GIG AS OF AUGUST LAST YEAR.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW, AND
WITHIN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, I
HAVE GROWN AND MATURED QUITE A
A LOT IN THAT TIME.
A LOT OF IT I-- EXCUSE ME, A
LOT OF IT I OWE TO THE RETRO
INDUSTRY.
BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO MANAGE MY OWN BUSINESS
AT MY OWN HOURS AND TAKE CARE
OF WHAT I NEED TO, LIKE BILLS
AND SUCH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,
I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO
DEVELOP A LOT OF ESSENTIAL
SKILLS WITH THROUGH THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
NOW, I LOVE WORKING WITH
PEOPLE, AND I LOVE PROVIDING A
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND
CONTINUING TO EXERCISE MY
PERSONAL SKILLS.
RIDE-SHARE IS A GREAT THING FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE UP TO PROVIDE A LOT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND STUFF,
GETTING PEOPLE FROM POINT A TO
POINT B AROUND THE CITY,
WHETHER IT IS TO BALLARD OR
DOWNTOWN OR WHEREVER.
AT NIGHT, I AM ABLE TO GET
FOLKS HOME SAFELY AND YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT
ESPECIALLY, WHO ARE OUT COMING
FROM THE BARS.
AT NIGHT TIME.
DURING THE FALL AND WINTER
TIME, MY RIDE IS GO UP BETWEEN
VARIOUS BUSINESS TRIPS, COMING
INTO TOWN, I WORK HARD, AND I
KNOW I AM DOING GOOD WORK.
YOU KNOW?
HELPING RESIDENTS GET FROM
POINT A TO POINT B, MORE
DEPENDABLE, COMFORTABLE AND
AFFORDABLE MANNER.
IT BRINGS ME TO MY CONCLUSION.
THE $.75 TAX WILL HAVE A GREAT
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY THAT
THE MAYOR IS TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION.
AND WITH HER PROPOSAL, MY
EARNINGS SHOULD NOT BE
JEOPARDIZED BY THE PROJECTS,
THAT AREN'T FACTORING OUR
THOUGHTS AS DRIVERS AND FEELINGS
AS A RIDE-SHARE DRIVER, AND AS
ME, YOUR CONSTITUENT.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I DO FEEL
LIKE WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP
BACK, AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING
MY TESTIMONIAL, AND VALIDITY OF
THIS PROPOSAL.
>> CHRISTINA NO, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORDS, AND I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HER BELT HAS A
QUESTION.
>> QUIS QUESTION FOR US TO
CONSIDER IS WHETHER OR NOT WE
CAN MAKE AVAILABLE THE
ELASTICITY STUDY, BECAUSE I'M
HEARING PEOPLE REALLY CONCERNED
THAT THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT
OF THEIR POCKETS.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND IF WE HAVE REASSURANCES
THAT IT WILL NOT, I WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE THAT WITH FOLKS.
>> IT WAS PART OF THE PUBLIC
DOCUMENTS THIS MORNING.
SO I THINK IT IS A FINE IDEA.
>> IT ALREADY HAS BEEN
PUBLISHED.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS, BUT
WE SAW IT THIS MORNING SO I
WOULD ASSUME THAT IF IT IS NOT
UP TODAY, THAT IT WILL BE UP BY
NIGHT.
>> KOREAN, HAS IT BEEN
PUBLISHED?
SO IT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED?
>> BUT IT WOULD BE.
AND CERTAINLY COULD BE, BECAUSE
THERE IS NOTHING CONFIDENTIAL
ON IT.
OKAY, WELL I THINK WE-- I THINK
WE SHOULD MAKE THE INFORMATION
AVAILABLE, SO, IF WE COULD--
MAYBE WE COULD JUST GET SOME
COPIES OF THAT, WOULD THAT MAKE
SENSE TODAY?
LIKE NOW?
WOULD YOU?
THANK YOU KARINA.
SO, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
UP HERE IS THIS MORNING WE WERE
GIVEN SOME INFORMATION THAT
SHOWED BASED UPON MODELING IF
THE TAX WAS RAISED TO A CERTAIN
AMOUNT, WHAT THE IMPACT ON THE
DOLLARS WOULD BE.
AND THEN I THINK IT WAS $.20
INCREMENTS, AND, WE WERE
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO SEE
THAT THE MODELING SUGGESTS THAT
THE NUMBER OF RIDERS WILL BE
REDUCED IN A VERY SMALL WAY,
EVEN IF WE WENT UP TO THE
HIGHEST NUMBER PROPOSED OR
CONSIDERED.
SO, WE WILL GET THAT FOR YOU,
AND JUST TO BE SOME COPIES HERE
TODAY TO LOOK AT IT.
AND IT WAS PRELIMINARY DATA,
BUT I THINK IT IS WORTHY TO
SHARE IT WITH YOU NOW.
OKAY, THANK YOU, I AM GLAD YOU
ARE HERE, AND STEVE, AND AFTER
STEVE, THERE IS A NAME THAT I
CANNOT READ, BUT MY BEST GUESS
FOR THE LAST NAME IS PUHU.
AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IT LOOKS
LIKE MAYBE IT IS CLEMENT, WE
ARE GOING TO START HAVING
AWARDS FOR THE WORST
HANDWRITING IN THE BEST
HANDWRITING.
SO, STEVE, PLEASE.
OR WELL HOW ARE YOU.
>> I AM STEVE LOVETT, I HAVE
BEEN A LIFT DRIVER FOR THREE
YEARS, PRIMARILY PART-TIME,
SEMI RETIRED.
BUT MY KIDS AREN'T SO SURE OF
THAT.
I GOT INTO LYFT, BECAUSE I WORK
AT HOME, AND MY DAUGHTER
ENCOURAGED ME SAID I NEED TO
GET AWAY FROM A COMPUTER, DOING
MY WORK GET OUT AND ABOUT IN
THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY POSITIVE-
- VERY POSITIVE VENTURE, WE
WILL PUT IT THAT WAY.
AS A PUBLIC-- FORMER PUBLIC
SERVANT AS WELL, MYSELF.
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE
EXPERIENCES AND I TRULY HAVE
ENJOYED THE 34, I HAVE ENJOYED
THE FLEXIBILITY IT GIVES ME,
AND I ACTUALLY MAKE PRETTY GOOD
MONEY DOING IT, QUITE FRANKLY.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED
IN LYFT PERSONALLY AND I DO
QUITE WELL AT IT.
ONE THING I FEEL THAT IS LOST
IN THESE DISCUSSIONS IS IS
PASSENGERS.
I PICKED UP PEOPLE IN
WHEELCHAIRS, SERVICE ANIMALS,
BIKES, A GIRL GOT HURT GOING
HOME, I PICKED HER UP ON HER
BIKE.
GROCERY STORES, GETTING IT TO
TWICE, GOING TO THE STORE, AND
COMING BACK.
I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF PEOPLE
BETWEEN JOBS, WHERE THEY CAN'T
GET TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN
TIME TO GET WHERE THEY ARE
GOING.
AND JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK
THINGS.
I HAVE A FRIEND, WHO LIVES IN
BELLEVUE, HE LIVES IN
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, HE WORKS IN
CAPITOL HILL, HE CANNOT GET A
BUS BACK, AND HE DEPENDS ON
THEM TO GET THEM HOME, AND IT
COSTS THING, AND I TALK TO
OTHER PASSENGERS WHO DON'T LIKE
TO GO TO THIRD AVENUE TO WAIT
FOR A BUS, WHERE PEOPLE DON'T
LIKE TO RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL UP
IN THAT UNIVERSITY STATION UP
THERE, BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE, SO
, THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT
THE TAX THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING
IS PART OF THIS.
I AM ALL FOR DOING SOMETHING
FOR-- TO HELP DRIVERS OUT, BUT
AS A FORMER PUBLIC SERVANT, I
DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE EVER
PUSHED FORTH A RESOLUTION OR
ANYTHING TO TAX SOMETHING TO
FINANCE SOMETHING ELSE.
LIKE YOU ARE PROPOSING FOR THE
STREETCAR AND THE HOUSING.
IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE
DONE, IT NEEDS TO BE HELPING
THE DRIVERS AND NOT SPENT ON
OTHER PROJECTS.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SO THE
LAST NAME-- THAT IS IT, YOU ARE
IN.
AND, YEAH, YOU DID WELL.
>> MY FIRST NAME IS HALEY.
>> IS WHAT?
>> HALEY.
SO CLOSE.
>> THERE IS A HALEY IN THAT?
OKAY,--
>> NOT PRINTED MY NAME.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY PART OF
HALEY IN THAT.
>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HEARING
MY TESTIMONY TODAY.
I AM A FULL-TIME UBER WRITER,
SO I AM DOING THIS FULL-TIME AS
I SAID ON ONLINE MARKETING AND
REAL ESTATE LESSONS TO BE A
BROKER, SO I HAVE PLANS TO NOT
DO THIS FOREVER, BUT TO PUT IT
BLUNTLY, IF YOU PUT THIS TAX
AND THE PASSENGER HAS TO PAY UP
TO $.75 MORE, IT IS GOING TO BE
VERY, VERY PROBLEMATIC IN A LOT
OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
I HEAR ALL OF THE TIME, PEOPLE
WILL NOT GO TO THAT ZONE, OR
WAIT TILL THE PRIMETIME HOURS,
ARE DONE BEFORE THEY GET RIDES,
THEY WILL DO-- THEY WILL CHECK
UBER, THEY WILL CHECK LYFT .
THEY ARE ALREADY TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW CHEAP THEY CAN
GET FROM A TO B. AND SO IF THAT
TAXES IMPOSED, I EXPECT THAT
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HESITATE,
AND THAT HESITATION WILL END UP
BEING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE
A LOT LESS DRIVERS, OR A LOT
LESS PASSENGERS, PLUS IT IS
HURTING THE DRIVER FROM THE
LESS RIDES THAT THAT CAN
HAPPEN, PLUS IF YOU HAD NOTICE,
THE GAS HAS GONE UP TWICE IN
THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT I HAVE
SEEN, AND SO OUR INCOMES ARE
GOING TO BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY
THE OUT TURN EXPERT OUT PUTS
FROM GAS INCREASE.
PLUS THE RIDES FROM THIS TAX
INCREASE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE DO
NOT PASS THIS TAX, BECAUSE IT
IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE BEST
BENEFIT OF ALL OF THE DRIVERS
AND PASSENGERS ALTOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT PERSON THAT SIGNED UP
HIS NUMBER 30.
MY GUESS HERE IS THAT IT IS
CLEMENT CLINIC?
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO MOVE
ON, AND IF SOMEONE HE IS AT THE
END, AND SAYS THAT WE DIDN'T
TELL YOU, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.
RICK BROWNING, AND HAVE A CAR
AND THEN WE HAVE TERESA BOWMAN.
HELLO.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THE BUDGET.
RICK BROWNING, LOCAL ARCHITECT,
AND CHAIR OF THE UPTOWN
ALLIANCE.
THAT IS THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUP.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
SO, I AM NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT
TNC, ALTHOUGH THAT IS OF
INTEREST TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR
SURE.
RATHER, I AM SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE THOMAS STREET
GREENWAY PROJECT.
AND COUNCILMEMBER BAD SHAW SAID
NOT TO REPEAT INFORMATION, BUT
I AM GOING TO REPEAT THE THINGS
WE HEARD EARLIER, TO
COUNCILMEMBER BAD SHAW, FOR
HELPING WITH THIS.
I THINK SOME OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THE
PROJECT AS WELL I JUST WANT TO
BRIEFLY STATE THIS IS NOT A
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT THIS IS
NOT A CONNECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOODS
, THE IT IS A PROJECT OF
REGIONAL, MAYBE EVEN NATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE.
INSOFAR AS WE HAVE A CENTRAL
PARK IN SEATTLE, IT IS THE
SEATTLE CENTER.
THIS PROJECT IS A GATEWAY TO
THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND IT IS
DESIGNED IN A WAY, TO PROVIDE
MODE EQUITY FOR BIKES AND
PEDESTRIANS.
AS MERCER IS A VERY CAR CENTRIC
, BUSY, AND SORT OF SCARY PLACE,
THIS COULD BE A COMMUNITY
GATHERING PLACE, AND A PLACE
FOR MODES TO ACCESS THE CENTER,
AND REALLY A LANDMARK PROJECT
FOR SEATTLE, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING AS STOTT
NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE SEGMENT,
BETWEEN THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND
DEXTER.
WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT IS.
THEY HAVE BEEN SQUISHY ON IT.
BUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
>> THANKS FOR COMING.
AND ALSO THANKS FOR YOUR WORK
ON THE DESIGN THAT WAS REALLY
GREAT EFFORT.
AVATAR?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> I HAVE A COPY OF MY
TESTIMONY IF YOU GUYS WANT TO
KEEP A COPY YOU CONSIDER IT
BETTER.
GREETINGS--
>> RATINGS.
>> I GO BY BOB FOR SHORT.
AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR--
WITH LYFT FOR OVER TWO YEARS
NOW, TO BECOME A FULL-TIME
DRIVER IT HAPPENED JUST OVER
THREE MONTHS AGO.
BEFORE THAT, I WAS A PROGRAM
COORDINATOR WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITY COMPANY CONTRACTOR.
BUT I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE IT
BETTER WITH LYFT, AND I'M HAPPY
HERE, FROM SWITCHING.
ALLY WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IS
THAT ALL SEATTLE FROM THE
MOMENT SEATTLE TILL NOW, HAS
BEEN ABOUT AGREEMENTS.
AND YOU KNOW HOW MANY THINGS I
AGREE WITH.
YOU WILL ALL AGREE WITH ME,
THERE IS ONLY ONE COLOR THAT
THE ICS MOST.
ANYBODY KNOW?
GREEN.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE IT IS OUR FOOD SOURCE,
AND THE AVERAGE FOOD FIRST.
THAT MEANS COLOR IS MONEY IS
GREEN, EDUCATION IS GREEN.
THE MONEY PUT ON THE DRIVERS,
OR RIDE-SHARE OR PASSENGERS, WE
HAVEN'T HEARD ALREADY.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO COMPANIES
DRIVER, WE APPRECIATE IT.
LATELY, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT
YOU ARE DOING, BUT PUTTING MORE
MONEY TO THE RIDE-SHARE
CUSTOMERS ALL THE TIME, THEY
DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE MONEY,
USUALLY THEY WILL HIRE LYFT,
THEY WILL GET DRUNK 34, IF IT
IS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE DRIVER
OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I
APPRECIATE YOU, THANKS FOR THIS
TIME, AND I HOPE YOU CAN LISTEN
TO OTHER PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, WE HAVE TERESA, MICHAEL,
AND THEN PETER.
>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MY
NAME IS TERESA BOWMAN, AND AS I
AM LISTENING TO THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION I AM REALIZING
THERE IS A LOT OF GAPS IN
UNDERSTANDING AND OPERATIONS,
COMPENSATION AS WELL AS JUST
RESOLUTION.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING
THE TIME TO HEAR BOTH SIDES,
AND I AM JUST WANTING TO SHARE
MY EXPERIENCE AND I AM IN
OPPOSITION TO THE TAX AND I
AGREE AND ECHO A LOT OF THE
DRIVERS HERE ARE SAYING.
I DO-- SO, I DRIVE AND 34 PART-
TIME, ME TO MAYBE 2010 TO 20
HOURS A WEEK, MY AVERAGES ON
THE LOW-END.
MY AVERAGES ABOUT $20-$23, HIGH-
END $35-$40 AN HOUR.
SO, WITH THE HIGHER TAXATION,
THAT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE
DEMAND, AND I-- AS BEING A
PREVIOUS BUSINESS OWNER AND
SEEING HOW THINGS ARE GOING
NOW, WITH JUST PROPERTY TAXES,
BUSINESS OCCUPATION TAXES, I
KNOW THAT CUSTOMERS, OR EVEN ME
MYSELF, AS A CONSUMER, IF THERE
IS MORE TAXATION, I SPEND LESS.
THERE IS LESS DISPOSABLE
INCOME.
AND SO, IF THAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN WITH RIDE-SHARE'S, THAT
IS GOING TO HAPPEN AS WELL.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE
LEAVING SEATTLE, A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING OUT OF
SEATTLE JUST TO AVOID THE
TAXATION, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO
HAVE A DECENT LIVING.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE
OUTSIDE THE CITY TO MAKE A
LIVING HERE, AND IT JUST MAKES
IT-- IT IS GOING TO JUST MAKE
IT EXTERNALLY DIFFICULT.
SO I THANK YOU FOR HEARING US
OUT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING,
TERESA, AND MICHAEL.
AND THEN PETER, AND I THINK WE
ALREADY HAD LOTTO, HE SPOKE IN
THE FIRST GROUP.
SO PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, CITY
COUNCIL.
MICHAEL BOWMAN HERE, I HAVE
BEEN A LYFT DRIVER FOR ABOUT
THREE YEARS OFF AND ON, PART-
TIME.
AND I AM HERE TO KIND OF
REPRESENT, AS A BUSINESS OWNER,
I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES, AND
I SEE LIFT AS A-- ANOTHER FORM
OF A BUSINESS I CAN DEFINITELY
LEVERAGE.
AND I UNDERSTAND PAPER
PERFORMANCE.
I HAVE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT LYFT HAS PROVIDED, THE
FLEXIBILITY THAT IT OFFERS, IN
BEING ABLE TO RUN MULTIPLE
BUSINESSES, I ROUTINELY MAKE
ON THE LOW-END, $20 AN HOUR, AND
BETWEEN UP TO ABOUT 40.
THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I
HAVE MADE $80 AN HOUR, AND THAT
IS JUST BASED ON TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIFT HAS PUT
PROVIDED.
I DO BELIEVE THAT A TAX ON
PASSENGERS WILL NEGATIVELY
IMPACT BOTH PASSENGERS, AND
DRIVERS.
DEFINITELY, LYFT DRIVERS DO
EARN MONEY BASED ON TIPS, SO I
DO UNDERSTAND THE PERFORMANCE
SIDE OF THAT, AND I DO BELIEVE
THAT PASSENGERS ARE CHARGED
MORE, THAT THOSE TIPS WILL ALSO
MAYBE NOT GO UP QUITE AS
FREQUENTLY TO DRIVERS.
THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO MAKE
EXTRA INCOME ON A PER HOUR
BASIS, I HAVE MADE UP TO $15 AN
HOUR, IN JUST TIPS ALONE.
SO WITH THAT, I BELIEVE A TAX
INCREASE WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT
BOTH PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
PETER KUUL.
OKAY, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND
PLEASE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE S SHARE
MARKEY?
GOOD, IF YOU WILL COME UP, YOU
WILL BE NUMBER TWO AND THEN
MOHAMMED ALI.
GOOD, PLEASE, GO AHEAD PETER.
YES.
>> OKAY, MY NAME IS PETER
QUILL, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING LYFT
FIVE YEARS, I PICK UP 3500
PEOPLE, AND GAP.
I SUPPORT RIDE-SHARE, 100% NO
DOUBT.
UBER IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.
UBER IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU.
FROM THE TIME IT STARTED IT WAS
$2.70 PER MONTH.
AND NOW IS $1.11.
THAT IS NOT UBER IS NOT FOR
YOU.
I AM SAYING, AS A DRIVER, WE
NEED TO UNITE TO STAY TOGETHER
AND BE STRONG.
IN TERMS OF DRIVER BEING
ATTACKED, IT IS AN ISSUE.
UBER TAKE A DOLLAR AND 50 POOR
INSURANCE.
NOT PAYING AT ALL.
WHO AMONG YOU CAN TELL ME GOT
AN ACCIDENT UBER FIXED.
NONE.
WHY WILL IT BE A PROBLEM FOR
PEOPLE TO GO TO A CITY?
THAT SERVE THE LIFE OF RUBBLE
AROUND ALL THE TIME.
WE NEED THE CERTAINTY OF DRIVER.
DRIVERS BEING DEACTIVATED FOR
NO REASON.
I HAVE BEEN DEACTIVATED FIVE
TIMES.
AGAIN AFTER LONG TALKING
DISCUSSION.
THEY PUT ME OUT FOR ONE YEAR.
OCTOBER LAST YEAR TO OCTOBER
THIS YEAR.
I AM OUT OF WORK.
FOR 70 THAT HAD ME, I CANNOT
BELIEVE SOMEBODY PAY ME.
BUT THEY TOOK ME OUT OF
BUSINESS FOR SOMEBODY THAT HIT
MY CAR.
MY FOR HIRE, AND I HAVE BEEN TO
PASSENGERS WITH ME, AND AGAIN,
THEY TOOK ME OUT OF BUSINESS.
WE NEED THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
PLEASE, WE NEED PASS THE LAW,
NEED TO BE THE PERSON IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND WE HAVE A MOHAMMED ALI?
HERE?
>> THAT IS MY NAME.
>> I HAVE GOT SURE MARK YEAH.
>> YEAH, SMART YEAH.
>> AND THEN MOHAMMED?
ARE YOU MOHAMMED?
>> MY NAME IS SACHIN BEEN BIT.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT NUMBER YOU
WERE WHEN YOU SEND UP?
>> IT WAS RIGHT HERE--
>> YOU SIGN THE LETTER?
DID YOU SEND THE LETTER?
>> NOT THIS ONE.
>> THEN YOU WAIT. OKAY, IT'S IN
HERE.
>> SO IF THERE IS NOT A
MOHAMMED ALI AFTER YOU, THEN OH
DEAR, THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO
LIVES ON 155th STREET?
WITH A 4 TO 5 PHONE NUMBER?
OKAY, AND THE NEXT AFTER THAT
IS ERIC BALLMER, SO PLEASE, GO
AHEAD.
>> I WAS SUPPORTING UNION
TEAMSTERS LAST FOUR YEARS, AND
THEY DON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
PEOPLE WORKING EMPLOYEE PART OF
SEATTLE EVERY DAY, THE FIVE
YEAR UNION.
SO, I AM QUIT FOR TEAMSTERS. I
SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE DRIVER
ASSOCIATION.
WE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS, AND WE
KEEP FOR JUST MOVING FORWARD.
TO FIGHT OUR RIGHTS.
SO LAST TWO YEARS APPEAR,
SUPPORT FOR TEAMSTERS AND I AM
QUIT FOR, I MAY SEATTLE DRIVER
ASSOCIATION.
AND WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER.
ALMOST LIKE 375 DRIVERS.
ASKED, AND WE HAVE A I MEAN,
THE UBER YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY
CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING
ABOUT UBER.
SO IF I SUPPORT FOR TEAMSTERS
AND UBER ASK FOR UBER, BECAUSE
I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR NOT SO
MUCH MONEY.
$50 EVERY MONTH AND THEY CAN'T
DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
BELIEVE ME.
BELIEVE ME, THEY CAN'T DO
NOTHING ABOUT IT.
SO GUYS, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.
JUST SUPPORT AS A DRIVERS, US
AND RAISE THE MONEY.
WE KNOW SEATTLE IS EXPENSIVE,
EVERYTHING.
SO JUST, I AM DRIVER DRIVER
RIDE-SHARE ASSOCIATION.
I AM NOT NO MORE TEAMSTERS.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> SO, WOULD YOU TELL ME YOUR
NAME?
SO, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT
IS 3607 EAST NORTH STREET 150--
OH-- YES.
OKAY.
GOOD, SO YOU WILL COME AFTER
MR. PALMER.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE BEEN IN UBER AND
LYFT DRIVER.
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I HAVE OVER 28,000 RIDES.
I TYPICALLY RUN BETWEEN A 4.95
AVERAGE AND A 5.0 AVERAGE, I
TALKED TO EACH OF MY CUSTOMERS.
I HAVE BEEN INTO THE LIFT
MEETINGS, AND I HAVE RECEIVED
EMAILS FROM DRIVE FORWARD.
DRIVE FORWARD IS OWNED BY UBER,
RUN BY UBER, AND MANAGED BY
UBER.
LYFT IS DOING THE SAME THING.
THEY ARE BOTH ADVOCATING,
SAYING THAT THE TAXES ARE GOING
TO AFFECT THE DRIVERS.
THEY ARE PUSHING THIS HARD.
IF THEY REALLY THINK SOMETHING
IS GOING TO AFFECT THE DRIVERS
WHEN THEY TOOK THE SEARCH PAY
AWAY FROM ALL OF THE DRIVERS,
BUT THEY CONTINUE PAYING,
CHARGING OUR CUSTOMERS?
THAT IS WHAT COST US CUSTOMERS.
WHEN OUR RIDES GO FROM FIVE
DOLLARS UP TO $25?
THAT IS WHAT AFFECTS OUR RIDE-
WHEN THEY LOWERED OUR RATES
DOWN, THAT IS WHAT AFFECTS OUR
POCKETBOOK.
IT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED.
WE LET UBER AND LYFT COMING
HERE UNREGULATED.
THEY HAVE LOWERED THE FARES,
THEY HAVE LOWERED THE PAPER,
THEY ARE NOT REGULATED AT ALL,
AND THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE
DRIVERS.
THIS BILL IS PRO-DRIVERS.
I RUN THE IDA, WHICH HAS BEEN
CREATED, IN ORDER TO CREATE
BENEFITS FOR INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, AND WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF CREATING OUR OWN
RIDE-SHARE UP, WHICH WILL BE
RUN PROPERLY.
WE BELIEVE THAT A DOLLAR 75%
PER MILE WITH NO SURGES WOULD
BENEFIT WRITERS MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE, AND PUT BENEFITS
ON IT WHERE THESE COMPANIES
CANNOT CHARGE THE SURGES, IF
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY IT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AARON.
ALL RIGHT, MR. JACKSON?
MR. JACKSON, YOU ARE UP, AND WE
HAVE GOT I THINK, 70 THAT HAS
ALREADY SPOKEN.
ALL JUST A MOMENT PLEASE, SORRY.
I THINK HE WAS ONE OF THEM THAT
SIGNED UP EARLIER.
OKAY.
I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO
THAT LAST PAGE.
THANK YOU.
AND THEN AFTER HIS CLARA CAN
TOUR, AND JORDAN PENNY.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, HI, THIS IS TUCSON T
JACKSON, I WENT TO ANOTHER
COUNCIL MEETING AND BARRY, AND
I BELIEVE IT WAS A FEW MONTHS
AGO, IT WAS ABOUT THE CARNIVAL
AND THE CIRCUS COMING BACK,
BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN
THEY WERE REALLY HERE, IT
HELPED THE ECONOMY.
AND I THINK IT SHOULD MARCH
WITH SPANIARDS, BECAUSE IF YOU
DO, THERE ARE TAX WRITE-OFFS,
AND PEOPLE COULD GET THEIR FOOD
CUP AND DICED UP, AND PROPERLY
COOKED, AND IT WILL HELP
PEOPLE.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE CIRCUS
COULD COME WITH MIXTURE, AND YOU
FOOTBALL BOXING GYMS, BECAUSE
I'VE BEEN TO A BOXING GYM THREE
OR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
TALENT AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE
THAT ARE BODYBUILDERS AND STUFF
THAT CAN HELP MY GREAT STUFF IF
YOU PUT THEM IN CORNFIELDS,
CEMETERIES, BARNYARD'S, DESERT,
STUFF LIKE THAT, AND MAKING IT
A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF
A CIRCUS AND CARNIVAL.
LIKE HALLOWEEN, THE ONLY TIMES
ALL OF THESE HOLIDAYS, YOU MIX
THEM UP TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN
HELP THEM, AND THERE'S TAX
WRITE-OFFS AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF WITH
THE CARNIVAL, LIKE RIDES AND
STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
FESTIVALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
IT CAN HELP THE ECONOMY, PEOPLE
CAN TAKE PLANES MORE, AND
THERE'S A LOT OF TAX WRITE-
OFFS, AND IT COULD JUST BE
BETTER FOR EVERYONE, IT'S A
COMPLEX SITUATION, BUT I
CARNIVAL IS GOING TO-- CIRCUS
IS BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN THEY
WERE IN TOWNS AND CITIES, A LOT
OF TIMES, AND THERE WERE
DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF IT, IT
MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE FOR
JOBS, AND YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
TAX WRITE-OFFS, AND PEOPLE HAD
MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET GET,
AND I THINK WE CAN PROGRESS
MORE TOWARDS THAT AND BUILD A
FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
CLARA CANTOR, HIS CLARA STILL
HERE?
THERE YOU ARE.
AND THEN JORDAN PENNY.
>> HI MY NAME IS CLARA CANTOR,
I AM A HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE MASS COALITION, TO
INVOLVE SEATTLE SUSTAINABLY.
WE, AS A COALITION BELIEVE THAT
EVERY PERSON IN SEATTLE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO GET AROUND WHERE
THEY NEED TO GO SAFELY AND
CONVENIENTLY, BY WALKING,
ROLLING, BIKING, OR TAKING
TRANSIT.
AND, WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR
CITY TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
SHOULD EMBODY OUR CLIMATE, AND
OUR EQUITY GOALS.
RATHER THAN UPHOLDING THE
STATUS QUO.
SO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF MASS COALITIONS,
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE, THUS
FAR.
AND ALSO, PARTICULARLY VOICE MY
SUPPORT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE
MASS COALITION TRANSPORTATION
PACKAGE, THAT HASN'T BEEN
BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE BUDGET
SESSION SO FAR, AND THE BUDGET
PRIORITIES THAT COME WITH THAT
PACKAGE.
I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK
PARTICULARLY WITH A COUPLE OF
THE PROJECTS, ONE, THE
GEORGETOWN SOUTH PARK TRAIL.
CONNECTING FROM GEORGETOWN TO
SOUTH PARK, THESE TWO
COMMUNITIES SHARE A LOT OF
RESOURCES.
AND RIGHT NOW, IT IS REALLY
DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO GET
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
THE BEACON AVENUE TRAIL.
THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,
BUDGET ASSETS, INCLUDING THE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
COORDINATOR, TO HELP KIDS GET
SAFELY TO AND FROM SCHOOL, AND
ALSO TO RESTORE THE TRAFFIC
CAMERA FUNDING.
THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED
TO SET ROUTES FROM SCHOOL, AND
WAS SIPHONED UP IN THE BUDGET
LAST YEAR, AND ENSURE THAT THAT
TYPE OF THING DOESN'T HAPPEN
AGAIN.
AND THEN ALSO, SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE HOMES ON PILOT.
WHICH IS CREATING SAFE PLACES
FOR PEOPLE TO WALK IN
NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT CURRENTLY
DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, OR OTHER
PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO SUPPORTED THOSE PROJECTS,
AND AMOUNT OF TIME.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THE THOMAS
STREET NEIGHBORHOOD AND CROSSING
BEFORE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GLAD YOU ARE
HERE.
SO ALL RIGHT, WE ARE MOVING ON
TO JORDAN PENNY, JORDAN, ARE
YOU HERE?
AND THEN, I AM GOING TO START
ON NUMBER 51, AND IT LOOKS TO
ME LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME
DUPLICATED NAMES, SO WE WILL
WORK THAT OUT AS WE GET THERE.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR JUST A LITTLE
OVER 7 1/2 MONTHS, LYFT FOR
ABOUT THREE AND HALF MONTHS.
I CURRENTLY AM NOT WORKING WITH
LYFT DUE TO THE FACT OF SOMEONE
WHO WAS UNINSURED, HITTING ME
BACK IN AUGUST, THE DAY AFTER
MY 27th BIRTHDAY, HIT MY 2019
BUICK, AND I WORKED PERSONALLY
FOR UBER AND LYFT.
HE WAS UNINSURED, THEY SAID
THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COVER
ANYTHING, NOR MY INSURANCE, I
WAS LEFT WITH A $2500
DEDUCTIBLE FOR SOME IDIOT
DRIVER WHO WASN'T SUPPOSED TO
BE ON THE ROAD GOT FINED $500
FOR HITTING ME.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT YEAH,
THERE'S A LOT OF TAXES THAT ARE
BEING POSTED UP FOR YOU KNOW,
BEING TAKEN OUT OF POCKETS OF
CUSTOMERS.
YOU ALSO IT IS GOING TO BE FROM
THE DRIVERS OR THE COMPANY
ITSELF, BUT IT STILL SCARES US,
BECAUSE, LIKE ME, UBER IS A
FULL-TIME JOB, I HAVE READ, I
HAVE BILLS, I HAVE ALL KINDS OF
STUFF I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
I ALSO PAID $224 A WEEK FOR A
RENTAL VEHICLE THAT IS PROVIDED
BY FAIR, THROUGH THE UBER
AVENUE, I WAS GIVEN ONE CHOICE
OF WHAT PLATFORM I WANT TO USE
I CHOSE TO USE UBER.
I HAVE GOOD RAPPORT WITH THEM.
I CONNECT BETTER WITH THEM.
I NOTICED THAT THERE USED TO BE
THESE SURGE RISE, AND ALL OF
THESE UPGRADED, YOU KNOW,
LITTLE PROMOTIONAL THINGS, I
DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF-- YOU
KNOW, THE REST OF YOU ALL HAVE
BEEN NOTICING IT, BUT UBER HAS
A LOT OF PACKS AND GLITCHES
THAT ALLOWED US NOT TO BE ABLE
TO ACCESS THOSE.
AND WITH ALL OF THESE JOBS, YOU
KNOW, THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE HAVING, WE ARE GETTING
SCARED, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS
BEING RISEN FOR THE CUSTOMERS,
DECREASING WRITING, AND
DECREASING THE INCOME THAT
COMES AT OUR PLACE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD, YOU KNOW OUR
PLACES.
WE WORK 24 SEVEN, SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE
ARE TRAPPED WE CAN'T GO OUT IN
REAL LIFE AND WE HAVE TO
DEDICATE OUR SELF WORKING 12+
HOURS A DAY JUST TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[ APPLAUSE ] SPECS I'M GOING TO
READ UP ON OVER HERE 229-3533
OKAY, VERY GOOD, AND DID YOU
JUST PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME FOR ME?
>> SOUP KITCHEN?
THANK YOU.
AND AFTER SACHIN IS PAGE, AND
WE HAVE ALL DUAL YOU SEE, AND
ALL DUAL MAY HAVE ALREADY
SPOKEN, BUT THERE MIGHT BE
SOMEONE WITH A SIMILAR NAME, SO
I DON'T WANT TO CONFLATE THAT.
SO, PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS SACHIN BABBITT,
AND I HAVE BEEN UBER FOR OVER
SEVEN -- OVER 6 1/2 YEARS.
OVER SEVEN YEARS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, THEY
JUST YOU KNOW, MORE MORE
CHARGING CUSTOMER MORE MONEY,
AND WE DO HAVE EVEN, WE CAN SHOW
THE REALITY.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE GET OVER
AND OVER CUT AND CUTS DOWN.
BUT WE TALKING ABOUT 50 TWO
QUARTER, AND A PENNY, TWO
QUARTERS AND A PENNY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CUSTOMERS
OR THE COMPANIES, THEY CAN
AFFORD THAT, THAT IS NOT A BIG,
BIG DEAL.
THE CUSTOMER CAN'T AFFORD PAY
SEARCH 10, 15, 20, $30.
WHAT IS THE $.51?
THEY ARE MAKING A BIG DEAL ON
THE $.51?
AND YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE GET
HITS NO-FAULT, THEY GET THE
ACTIVATION BECAUSE IT IS NOT
THEIR FAULT.
THEY ARE DOING THE THINGS THEY
CAN DO, AND THEY JUST SORT OF
LUCK, AND THEIR PAYMENTS ARE
THERE, THEY ARE ALL EXPENSES
ARE THERE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE
MAIN CONCERN, THOSE PEOPLE
DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE NO
LIMIT ON THE CARDS, YOU NEED TO
TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BIG DEAL.
THAT IS WHY THEY DON'T CARE IF
500 DRIVER GET THE ACTIVATION.
SO WHO CARES?
THEY HAVE 30,000 29,500 STILL
WORKING YOU KNOW?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
SO PAGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, HOLD
TIGHT FOR JUST A SECOND, THEN
AFTER PAGE ABDUL, AND IT LOOKS
LIKE GETTY GEDI MOHAMMED?
>> HI, I'M PAGE A LOT, AND I'M
WITH THE SEATTLE STREETCAR
COALITION, I'M HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE FAIR SHARE PLAN,
FOR FUNDING THE STREETCAR.
LAST YEAR, OVER 24 MILLION
RIGHT HAILING TRIPS WERE IN
SEATTLE, A 16% INCREASE, YEAR
OVER YEAR.
OVER HALF OF THOSE TRIPS TOOK
PLACE IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR,
WHICH WILL BE SERVED BY THE
CENTER CITY STREETCAR.
THE FAIR SHARE PLAN WILL RAISE
FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE STREETCAR
ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH WILL
SERVE 20,000 DAILY PASSENGERS.
WITH 65% OF THE REGION'S CARBON
EMISSIONS COMING FROM
TRANSPORTATION, TAX ON RIGHT
HAILING TO FUND A STREETCAR,
POWERED BY 100% GREEN ENERGY IS
A STEP WE CAN TAKE TODAY,
TOWARD CLIMATE ACTION,
ADDRESSING CONGESTION, AND
BECOMING A MORE SUSTAINABLE
CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
THE FAIR SHARE PLAN TO HELP
IMPROVE MOBILITY DOWNTOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE JUST BEEN GIVEN A
NOTE FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
ELASTICITY DOCUMENT THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER FROM THE
MAYOR.
WE WILL POST IT ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AS SOON AS WE
GET OUR HANDS ON IT.
I KNOW WHERE IT IS IN MY
OFFICE, BUT THAT WILL HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL WE ARE DONE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
ABDUL?
>> HI, MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, AND THE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ABDUL I AM WITH EAST
SIDE FOR HIRE, AND ALSO
DISCOUNT COMMUNITY.
I AM HERE FOR I HEARD ABOUT A
COALITION THAT IS A SUPPORT ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT IS MISSING
IS OUR AGENDA ON IS NOT MORE
ABOUT THE MERITS OF WHAT HAS
BEEN PROPOSED, BUT IT IS THE
VENUE.
WE CREATED ANOTHER COALITION,
WHICH WE WILL SUPPLY SOME
INFORMATION, IT IS CALLED NOT
ON OUR BACKS, WITHOUT BENEFIT.
BASICALLY, THIS IS THE ONLY
INDUSTRY, WHERE MINORITY IS THE
MAJORITY.
OF THE DRIVERS.
AND, THE WAY THESE THINGS IS
PROPOSED IS, IN AFRICA, WE HAVE
A SAYING THAT SAYS A DONKEY, A
HUNGRY DONKEY CARRYING A BUCKET
OF HONEY, SO REALLY, WHAT WE
ARE ADVOCATING IS IF THERE IS
MONEY TO BE RAISED FOR FIVE
YEARS, THIS PARTY HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT DRIVER, BOTH TAXI
OR FOR HIRE, AND TNC DRIVERS,
TO PUT MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS,
THIS IS NOT PUT ONE DIAMOND
THERE.
AND NEITHER DOES BENEFIT THE
COMMUNITIES OF WHICH THESE
DRIVERS ARE FROM.
SO, WE ASK YOU, AND WE
SUBMITTED THIS LETTER TO YOU TO
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, THAT
OUR DRIVERS AND THEIR CUSTOMS
NEEDS TO TAKE A FAIR SHARE OF
THE CITY'S BURDEN BEING IMPOSED
ON ONE COMMUNITY AND ITS
DRIVERS.
UNDER THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ABDUL.
THINK YOU GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I WILL BOCK ARE, I KNOW WE HAD
ONE GENTLEMAN SPEAKING WITH
THAT NAME, WAS THERE ANYBODY
ELSE BEGIN WITH THAT SAME THEM?
>> GETTY, IS THERE YAPHET?
OKAY.
PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS YAPHET. I
WORK FOR UBER FOR TWO YEARS,
LAST YEAR MY ACCOUNT IS
DEACTIVATED.
THEY SAY, BECAUSE OF A DOG.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, WHETHER
SERVICE DOG OR NOT?
THERE IS NO ANY EVIDENCE. WHEN
THE WRITER SHE CAME, SHE WAS
YOUNG LADY, I ASKED HER HIS
SERVICE DOG?
YES.
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?
FOR THE DOG?
SHE SAID NO.
AND SHE STARTS TO FIGHT BEFORE
SHE GO TO THE CAR, SHE STARTED
TO FIGHT WITH ME.
AND SHE STARTED TO TALK
UNNECESSARY WORDS.
AND I WAS SCARED OF THIS LADY,
AND I SAID TO HER, OKAY PLEASE
TRY TO SPEAK PROPERLY AND
POLITELY.
AND SHE START TO FIGHT, BEFORE
SHE COMES THE CAR.
AND I SAID I OFFERED HER,
BECAUSE OF HER BEHAVIOR, YEAH,
AND I HAVE TO-- I DIDN'T ACCEPT
THE RIDE.
THEN THEY THEY DEACTIVATED MY
ACCOUNT.
BUT I GAVE ABOUT 4300 RIDE WITH
4.9 I HAVEN'T ANY ISSUE, ANY
PROBLEM.
AND THEY SEE IS THE PROBLEM.
AND POLICE, THEY SPEAK WITH ME
ON THE PHONE.
THAT IS A GUY WHO, I TRIED TO
EXPLAIN HIM, I DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND HIM WHAT HE SAID.
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
PLEASE, FOR THE NEXT, IF WE
HAVE A SERVICE DOG IS BETTER TO
INFORM IN THE APP.
THIS IS A SERVICE DOG OR NOT.
YEAH.
IF WE HAVE LIKE THAT, WE DON'T
HAVE ANY ISSUE.
I DRIVE ALSO FOR LEFT, I DO NOT
HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH 5.0 RATE.
PLEASE, FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO
EXPLAIN FOR UBER OR LIFT MORE
INFORMATION IN THE APP.
>> NICE, THANK YOU, CAN I ASK
YOU A QUESTION?
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU FOR
YOU TO GET REINSTATED BACK ON
THE APP?
>> SORRY?
>> HOW LONG, AFTER YOU WERE
TAKEN OFF?
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO
GET REINSTATED, SO YOU COULD
DRIVE AGAIN?
>> THEY DIDN'T REINSTATE.
>> OH, SO YOU STILL ARE NOT
DRIVING?
>> YEAH, I KNOW NOT DRY FOR ONLY
LYFT .
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE GOT LET ME
GIVE YOU ANOTHER PHONE NUMBER.
206830 0023 AS THAT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU, PLEASE COME ON UP.
IF NOT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO BABS.
CANTOR. ANOTHER PHONE NUMBER,
206209972 FOUR YEAH, EXCELLENT,
AND WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
>> I'M CHRIS AGO BY FELIX, I
WAS DRIVING FOR UBER AND I WAS
DEACTIVATED LAST YEAR,
SEPTEMBER 10th, AND IT TOOK
MONTHS, GOING BACK AND FORTH
BASICALLY WITH UBER, BEFORE
THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, AS I'M
GOING.
THEY JUST DECIDED TO SEIZE ANY
COMMUNICATION THEY WEREN'T
GOING TO EXPLAIN, AND SO I
FOUND AN ARBITRATION, AND THAT
HASN'T GOTTEN TO PLACE UNTIL
APRIL OF 24th, SO SIX MONTHS
LATER, FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO
SPEAK TO THOSE PEOPLE.
AND THAT, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
SAFEGUARDS THIS ARBITRATION IS
DIFFERENT THAN IN AAA
ARBITRATION THE CITY IS GOING
TO PROVIDE?
BECAUSE HUBER HAS A LOT OF
TRICKS IN HAND I BELIEVE, THAT
THEY WILL TELL YOU WHERE THAT
IS HOW THE ARBITER, THAT THE
CONTRACT LANGUAGE IS THAT THEY
HAVE ALL RIGHTS, BASICALLY.
YOU KNOW, WAVING MOST OF YOUR
RIGHTS ALREADY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING
TO AFFECT US ARBITRATION
PROCESS, USE THE SAME STANDARD
HERE.
AND I THINK THAT UBER, IN MANY
DIFFERENT INSTANCES, IN FRONT
OF CITY, IN FRONT OF COUNTY, IN
FRONT OF STATE.
THEY HAVE STATEMENTS THAT THEY
ARE NOT FOLLOWING.
THEY MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE OH,
WE HAVE THREE STRIKES.
BUT IN THIS ARBITRATION, THEY
DENIED THAT, BECAUSE IT IS ALL
OFFICIAL POLICY.
IT'S NOT POSTED ANYWHERE, SO
THEY WERE ABLE TO JUST PUSH
AWAY THE RESPONSIBILITY.
BASICALLY.
MAKE A STATEMENT ENSURING
WHATEVER POLICY AT THE TIME
THEY WANT TO PASS, FOR
LEGISLATION.
AND, SO YEAH, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN
REINSTATED SINCE, AND ACTUALLY
RECENTLY, EXACTLY ONE YEAR
LATER, I NOW NEED TO FILE
BANKRUPTCY, SO NOW IT IS JUST
THIS CRAZY PROCESS THAT YOU GO
THROUGH, LIKE SPENDING LEGAL
TIME, OR THAT THEY DON'T TREAT
PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE REALLY.
FOR THEM IT IS MORE LIKE A
NUMBER.
SO--
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY.
>> I REALLY WANT TO KNOW LIKE
-- [ APPLAUSE ].
>> I APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
YET NECK ALANA.
AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE OH BOY,
SEFH A DJ AND I. YOU NECK?
>> NX, YEAH THAT IS ME.
THANKS FOR GIVING US THIS
CHANCE.
I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS LIKE
YESTERDAY, I WAS READY FOR
PROPER SPEECH OR ANYTHING
BETTER.
BUT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH UBER,
SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH
THEM FOR LIKE THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS, BUT I DRIVE FOR A
WHILE, BECAUSE OF SCHOOL STUFF,
SO I COME BACK AND AFTER THAT,
LIKE THEY CANCEL MY AIRPORT
TRIPS MOST OF OUR TRIPS ARE
FROM LIKE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN,
BECAUSE I AM DRIVING LIKE UBER
, THIS ISSUE IS LIKE MOST OF MY
FRIENDS, LIKE ALL DRIVERS, LIKE
YOU KNOW?
SO WHEN WE GO TO THE OFFICE,
AND THEN ASK THEM, WHAT IS THE
REASON, THEY CLOSING OUR
ACCOUNT?
SO THEY DON'T HAVE A REASON,
LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
REASON, BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT
OH, WE ARE NOT THE ONES THAT
ARE CLOSING YOUR ACCOUNT, THE
ONE FROM CALIFORNIA PEOPLE THEY
ARE THE ONES CLOSING YOUR
ACCOUNT, SO WE CANNOT DO
ANYTHING FOR YOU.
SO WE BACK AND FORTH LIKE, WITH
THEM, FOR THE SO MANY TIMES, SO
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY EVEN
THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY GET PAID,
THEY DON'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR US.
SO WE CANNOT CONTACT THE
CALIFORNIA PEOPLE, IT HAS BEEN
LIKE THIS FOR LIKE OF YEAR, SO
WE DON'T GET ANSWERS, WE DON'T
KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO
OPEN IT BACK, WE DON'T HAVE ANY
CLUE FOR THAT, SO OUR JOB IS
LIKE, SO STRESSFUL, BECAUSE OF
THE SITUATION.
WHENEVER WE MAKE UP LIKE, WE
DON'T KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO
CLOSE OR DEACTIVATED, OR WE
GOING TO WORK.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE.
SO EVERY DAY IS SO STRESSFUL,
SO WE WANT SOMEONE LIKE, TO
ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
TIME IS UP, SO I HAVE A LOT TO
TALK ABOUT.
BUT OKAY.
NEXT TIME.
>> BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
I'M TELLING US YOUR STORY.
OKAY, SO -- [ APPLAUSE ]
>> DANIEL JUST 30 SECONDS HERE.
THE NEXT ONE, PEDRO, AND THEN
ALL MEDULLA.
AND ADAM.
IN THAT ORDER.
>> HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SEPHARDI.
AND I AM DRIVING UBER BLOCK, I
HAVE BEEN DRIVING SIX YEARS,
AND LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
THEY DEACTIVATED MY PHONE, LIKE
I HAVE APP STILL WORKING, BUT
GIVEN TO ME FROM AIRPORTS
DOWNTOWN, AND FROM DOWNTOWN TO
AIRPORT, AND AFTER I AM
BABYSITTER, I TAKE CARE OF MY
DAUGHTER, AND I GOT FOR KIDS,
SO LIKE, I DON'T HAVE ANY
INCOME RIGHT NOW, LIKE I DON'T
WANT TO TALK A LOT, BECAUSE HE
EXPLAIN, AND A LOT OF DRIVERS,
WE ARE THE SAME ISSUE.
AND PLEASE, YOU GUYS, YOU HAVE
A POWER, YOU NEED TO STOP THIS
UBER, UBER IS KILLING US.
SO I DON'T LIKE I DON'T HAVE
CHOICE.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS, I'M NOT
TAKING ANYWHERE MY KIDS, I
CANNOT AFFORD EVEN LIKE MY RENT.
NEXT MY STEPS GOING TO BE LIKE
MAYBE HOMELESS?
YOU KNOW?
STOP, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
ALL MEDULLA, THEN ADAM.
AND THEN TELL MOMMY.
>> YEAH, PEDRO ESPINOZA, I
THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR GIVING ME
A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I BELONG TO A LABOR
ORGANIZATION CALLED THE
CARPENTERS UNION.
SO, PRETTY BIG ORGANIZATION,
AND WE BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY HAS
A RIGHT TO WANT TO UNIONIZE, WE
BELIEVE THAT IF THE PEOPLE AND
THOSE ENTITIES FEEL LIKE THERE
IS AN ISSUE AND THEY WANT TO
COME TOGETHER, THEN LET THEM.
LAST TIME I CHECKED A LITTLE
PIECE OF THE CONSTITUTION SAID
LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS, I THINK WE ARE
TENDING TO FORGET THAT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE OWNERS
AT THE TOP THAT, YOU KNOWS, USE
FEAR TACTICS ON THESE WORKERS
TO SAY HEY, IT IS GOING TO
IMPACT YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO
TAKE THE COST, BUT YET YOU SEE
THEM ALWAYS RISING TO THE TOP.
HEARING THE STORIES FROM THE
WORKERS HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF HOW THEY ARE FRUSTRATED,
THEY ARE NOT BEING REPRESENTED
BUT YET, THEY ARE THE ONES OUT
THERE DOING THE WORK.
YOU NEVER SEE THE OWNER OF TRAN
UBER OR LYFT ACTUALLY COMING
OUT HERE DOING THE JOB BECAUSE
THEY KNOW IT IS HARD, AND YES,
EVEN THOUGH THEY DRIVE, IT IS
AN ISSUE, BECAUSE THEY ARE
PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE
FOR DANGEROUS ACTS, PEOPLE
ROBBING THEM, PEOPLE DANGEROUS
ENCOUNTERS, SO IF THEY WANT TO
UNIONIZE, LET THEM.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HURT THEM.
IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BETTER
THEIR LIVES, YOU HEAR THESE
PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLAINING THAT
THEY ARE NOT GETTING A RESPONSE
BACK FROM THE ORGANIZATION THAT
MEANS THEY HAVE NO
REPRESENTATION WHAT DO THEY DO?
NOW THEY SIT THERE, THIS MAN
OVER HERE JUST BOOK HE DOESN'T
KNOW WHERE HIS GOING TO GET HIS
INCOME.
SO AS THEY ARE PUSHING FOR THEM
TO NOT UNIONIZE, SHAME ON THEM.
BECAUSE THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY
AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO
THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL MEDULLA.
ADAM, AND THEN ALMONTE, AND
THEN WE ARE CALLING IT A WRAP.
>> HELLO CITY, THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THIS OLD OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS ALL MOMMY.
I AM PLEADING WITH YOU FOR YOU
TO HELP FIGHT AGAINST THE
UNFAIR DEACTIVATION BECAUSE I
WAS DEACTIVATED, I WAS ALSO
DEACTIVATED BY UBER IN THE YEAR
I THINK ONE AND A HALF YEARS
AGO, FOR FOR NO REASON.
AND THEN-- I'M PLEADING WITH
YOU, WHATEVER, THE CITY, TO
HELP US AND FIGHT AGAINST IT.
I WENT TO ONE AND A HALF YEARS
AGO, TWO OR THREE TIMES I WAS
REFERRED TO, THEY TOLD ME THAT
THEY WERE THE ONES NOT AT
FAULT, THAT THE CITY DID IT.
AND I WENT TO THE CITY THAT
THEY RUN MY DRIVING RECORD
EVERYTHING, THEY SAID
EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.
THAT THEY DID NOT DO IT.
THAT HUBER IS A SEPARATE ENTITY.
THAT I HAVE TO FIND OUT, MAYBE
OR NOT I AM I REALIZE THAT THAT
IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A LONG
TIME, THEY DECIDED TO IGNORE
THE WHOLE THING.
AND JUST MOVE ON.
I HAVE BEEN DOING LYFT, BUT
THE INTEREST OF THE MATTER IS
IF WE ARE DOING BOTH AT THE
SAME TIME THAT HELPS US A LOT
BECAUSE IF ONE IS NOT BUSY, YOU
CAN DO THE OTHER ONE THE OTHER
ONE MAY BE BUSIER, BUT IF YOU
RELY ON ONLY DOING ONE AND THAT
ONE IS I AM DOING LYFT THAT ONE
IS SLOW.
GETTING A REQUEST.
SO IN THAT CASE, I WILL PLEAD
FOR YOU THE CITY YOU CAN HELP
US FIGHT AGAINST AN UNFAIR
DEACTIVATION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE AN ADAM?
AND ADAM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT
MIGHT BE I DON'T KNOW FAR?
OKAY.
AND THEN AN ALMONTE. OKAY WAS
THERE IN OUR DOLLAR?
OKAY THEN I THINK EVERYBODY WHO
SIGNED UP HAS HAD A CHANCE TO
SPEAK, THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING, I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS, AND COLLEAGUES, THANK
YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE.
WHAT IS THAT SIR?
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND GO I
WILL TAKE THE LAST ONE.
COME ON, WE WILL DO IT, WE WILL
TAKE ONE MORE AND THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
VERY QUICK AND SHORT.
>> AND WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR
NAME PLEASE?
>> MORE DATA.
OKAY THANK YOU.
>> I WAS DEACTIVATED ABOUT A
MONTH AGO.
THE WRITER HAS COMPLAINED THAT
I WAS UNDER INFLUENCE.
I WENT TO THE OFFICE THEY
WEREN'T ABLE TO DO ANYTHING,
BECAUSE THERE IS A SOMEONE WHO
PUSHED THE BUTTON AND I AM SORRY
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
AND I TRIED TO PROVE THAT I
WENT TO GET A DRUG AND ALCOHOL
TEST, BUT AT THAT TIME
EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED, I DID IT
THINK IT WAS ON MONDAY.
THAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY.
I PROVED THAT ON MONDAY THAT
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST THAT
READS SIX WEEKS BACK.
THAT EVERYTHING COMES UP
NEGATIVE.
IT COST ME FROM MY POCKET $314.
THEY SENT ME THE DOCUMENTS.
OF THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST.
AND THE EXPENSE TO REIMBURSE ME.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM
THEM YET.
THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT.
I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE KIND OF
MECHANISM THAT IF SOMEONE HAS I
MEAN, SUSPICIOUS OF THAT, THEY
COULD BE ABLE TO DO THE TEST
WITH DRIVER EXPENSE, AND IF IT
COMES BACK NEGATIVE, THEN THAT
IS THE DRIVERS FAULT, I MEAN
THE COMPANY ASSUMES PAY FOR IT.
IF IT COMES POSITIVE, THEN THE
DRIVER HAS TO SWALLOW THAT.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> OKAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU
EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE, IT
HAS BEEN A LONG DAY FOR
EVERYONE, APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS, AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED, WE WILL PICK IT UP
MONDAY AGAIN, WE HAVE FULL
COUNSEL, AND OUR AFTERNOON
SESSION WILL START
APPROXIMATELY 2:30.
THANK YOU.