Uber as public transit is a bad, temporary band-aid

Uber as public transit is a bad, temporary band-aid

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has siphoned (read: stolen) monies from the People’s Transportation Plan, approved by voters to build MetroRail extensions, and used it for operation costs. He raised bus fares in 2013 from $2 to $2.25 when he bought $40 million worth of new buses. And he has cut bus operations by $3 million […]

Watch as Uber’s intimidating tactics catch fire

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 […]

A tale of two Uber laws — and the main differences

A tale of two Uber laws — and the main differences

Two competing ordinances to finally regulate “ride sharing” services or “TNEs” like Uber and Lyft will likely dominate the already full-agenda Miami-Dade County commission meeting Wednesday. We know taxi cab drivers are already a staple in commission chambers whenever this comes up (and sometimes when it doesn’t). And now, Uber has rallied riders to flood […]

As regulation looms, Uber goes mafioso with ad campaign

As regulation looms, Uber goes mafioso with ad campaign

For about two years, Uber has been operating its alleged “ride sharing” service illegally throughout Miami-Dade, picking  passengers up and taking business from taxis and causing a ruckus at County Hall. And now that there is going to be a serious consideration of rules they might have to adhere to, the company has launched a […]

Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s Uber draft ‘not ready for primetime’

Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s Uber draft ‘not ready for primetime’

The much ballyhooed ghost legislation that Mayor Carlos Gimenez had his staff write to legalize Uber and Lyft is not going anywhere. Not anytime soon, anyway. But it’s not because Commission Chairman Jean Monestime has been stalling, like Gimenez and his people have been saying on TV and radio shows for the past couple of […]

Carlos Gimenez moves to legalize Uber, pardon penalties

Carlos Gimenez moves to legalize Uber, pardon penalties

Christmas could come early for the operators of so-called “ride sharing” services like Uber and Lyft — if Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez gets his way. As part of a plan to institute some regulations that will make them legal, Carlos “Mr. Giveaway” Gimenez wants to forgive $1.4 million in fines that the companies have amassed since […]

Miami-Dade should give medallion money back to cabbies

Miami-Dade should give medallion money back to cabbies

It’s fraud. Or extortion. Or both. Miami-Dade County sold six taxi medallions at auction for about $2.4 million dollars in 2012, an average of $400,000 each. This is on top of the 20 medallions awarded to taxi drivers through a lottery every year from 1999 to 2011– at $20,000 a pop. Folks paid those prices […]

Double standard: Miami-Dade lets Lyft, Uber run over rules

Double standard: Miami-Dade lets Lyft, Uber run over rules

Uber, the popular app-driven black car service that has been a controversial addition to the traffic landscape in Miami-Dade, has been booted from Broward County as of last week. And Uber drivers are getting citations in Key West — where at least one driver was arrested for driving without a license. And where do you […]