Detroit Cab Drivers Protest Ride-Sharing Services; Compare Uber To Kwame Kilpatrick
DETROIT (WWJ) - Local taxi drivers protested outside Detroit City Hall on Wednesday, complaining that Uber and other ride-services are hurting their business.
Kennith Reynolds, President of the Metro Detroit Cab Drivers Association, said what Uber is doing should be illegal — company's app-based ride-hailing service to the crimes of a notorious ex-Detroiter.
"Former Mayor (Kwame) Kilpatrick, they said he was running a RICO operation that was illegal, all over the city of Detroit," Reynolds said. "These guys are running a RICO operation all over the world! They are up under cease and desist orders all over the planet, but still they say the hell with what ya'll say."
Cabs from different companies circled City Hall during Wednesday's demonstration.
Driver Darryl Bradly says all they're asking for is a level playing field.
"First of all, they don't pay any taxes, they don't pay any inspection fees, any meter fees, they don't do any of that that we do!" Bradly said. "If anybody can just get a car, start picking up people, that's a jitney! And, to my knowledge, a jitney is unlawful in the city of Detroit."
Reynolds blames the media, in part, for his problems.
"Everybody's promoting Uber," he said, "but nobody did any research on Uber. Is Uber really safe? Is Uber legal?"
Detroit Mayor's Office spokesman John Roach said the city's law department is working with City Council on a draft ordinance to address this issue.
Ride-sharing services, meantime, have been the target of some ire in New York City where council members are expected to approve a bill that would temporarily limit the issuing of new licenses for-hire vehicles which have been blamed for increased traffic problems.
