PRESS RELEASE 1/6/14
SFTWA Calls on S.F. to Regulate Ride Services like UberX and Lyft

Who: The San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance (SFTWA)
What: Press conference
Where: Front steps of City Hall, 1 Carlton B. GoodLett Place, San Francisco, CA When: Tuesday, January 6 at 12 noon

Why: Release of White Paper on the reasons for local regulation of ride services

The San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance (SFTWA) will hold a press
conference at City Hall on Jan. 6 at noon to announce the release of a White Paper urging San Francisco to regulate “ride services” like UberX and Lyft and enforce against violations of law by those services and their drivers. DeSoto Cab is also a signatory to the document.

The White Paper describes the city’s authority under state law to regulate these services (which are also called “TNCs”). Among the reasons why the city should exercise that authority are:

• To protect public safety

• To prevent insurance fraud

• To ensure compliance with disabilities laws

• To preserve the environment

• To allow cab drivers to earn a livable income

• To offset the city’s costs owing to TNC operations and require them to pay their

  fair share toward city revenues

  “The state has not done its job in regulating services like UberX and Lyft,” said SFTWA Executive Board member Barry Korengold. “Unless the city steps in the public will not be properly protected, congestion will continue to increase and the quality of service to taxi riders will suffer.”

  Speakers will include Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council; attorney Christopher Dolan, who represents the family of Sophia Liu, killed by an Uber driver in San Francisco; and disabled community activist Bob Planthold.

  The SFTWA has over 600 members and is affiliated with the National Taxi Workers Alliance, AFL-CIO.

  END 

Contacts: Mark Gruberg [email protected] / Barry Korengold [email protected]