Watch as Uber’s intimidating tactics catch fire

The ride sharing companies who have been operating illegally for two years in Miami-Dade got their first step toward legalization last month when county commissioners gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that would regulate these companies, but barely.

But something else happened at that Jan. 20 meeting: A new strategy was born for getting your business tended to your way at the county.

Before it could be heard, Chairman Jean Monestime withdrew a competing ordinance that had more regulations for the ride sharing companies, who are competing with taxis and limousines for passengers. Specifically, it required better background checks and more insurance — things that only protect the consumer.

Monestime withdrew the ordinance, he said, in order to let the conversation move forward. He may bring up some of his issues during a workshop, which will be scheduled in the next month or two, and the ordinance past two weeks ago — sponsored by Commissioner Esteban Bovo — may look a little bit differently.

Others say that he could count votes and he knows they weren’t there for him.

But that’s par for the course. What’s different is that Monestime also buckled under tremendous pressure from Uber, which had launched online and radio ads attacking the chairman. They said the prosperity champion wanted to take jobs and “safe, reliable transportation options” away from Miami-Dade. The company had users and supporters email County Hall and call the chairman’s office to complain.

And the bullying apparently worked.

So what does this mean for the future? Ladra had hoped that the Chairman would stick to his guns, if only to show that this kind of intimidation tactic cannot be tolerated. I had hoped that the other commissioners would also come to his defense on the matter, if only for their common good.

Because if you don’t think this is going to happen again now, you haven’t been watching politics long. This tactic — a Tallahassee style blitz likely orchestrated by seasoned Tally lobbyist Brian Ballard — will now become the best way to get what you want at the 111 building. What? You don’t think the other lobbyists weren’t watching?

And while all is fair in war and politics, this type of tactic is costly and won’t be available to the average activist or non-governmental organization. Otherwise the Pets’ Trust could do a lot this way to get commissioners to respect the 2012 vote of 65% of the people who wanted a dedicated revenue source for a massive spay and neuter program.

But Ladra expects FIU to use it next to try to force commissioners to move against the Youth Fair.

And what about the workshop process? How will commissioners feel free to consider any regulations if they know they could become targets of misleading attack ads in a year when seven of them are up for re-election?

By withdrawing his ordinance, whether he had the votes or not, Monestime gave in to the intimidation and maybe created a recurring nightmare for himself and his colleagues.

Jean Monestime, Uber

Watch as Uber’s intimidating tactics catch fire added by Ladra on February 1, 2016
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