Uber replied to the New York TLC action with a pack of lies, a bucket of dupe and a load of spin.
"Uber supports efforts to ensure that....drivers in New York City....are able to make a living wage...."-LIE. If Uber truly supported that, the pay cuts, be they blatant or veiled never would have happened.
"...higher than necessary fare increases..."-Spin. It costs money to deliver a service. In the capitalist system under which this country operates, that cost is paid by the consumer. In addition, the consumer must pay an amount sufficient to allow the provider to turn a reasonable profit. Until UberX appeared, taxi driving was a middle class occupation. Uber has sought to reduce it to a poverty level occupation. Keep in mind that an UberX driver ain't nothin' but no unlicenced, illegal, under-insured, under-informed, ill-equipped, cut rate, discount tack-see driver". There is a reason why cab rates are what they are. It has little, if anything, to do with Big Taxi, which, in this market at least, does not apply. The rates are what they are because it costs money to equip keep up a vehicle, pay for licences, pay for supplies and turn a decent profit.
Consider this: I have rubber floors and vinyl covered seats in my taxi. This makes it easier to keep it clean: vacuum after dogs and people who sneak eat in the car; spray and wipe after people who sneak eat in the car, wipe up after people who track mud in the car; clean up after a ralpher. It costs money to have these things put into your car. Cab rates are sufficient to pay for this. TNC rates, AIN'T, which is why my TNC car is not so equipped.
"....missing an opportunity to...reduce congestion in Manhattan's central business district..."-DUPE. There have been studies that have proved that the proliferation of the TNCs has contributed to increased congestion. When the D.C. City Council imposed that new tax on the TNCs, Evans cited the increased congestion. There is at least one California study that asserts the same. My experience dictates increased congestion. This is one reason, out of a few, why New York capped the taxicabs in the 1930s.
"The TLC rules do not take into account incentives or bonuses......"-Spin. I will trade bonuses and incentives for reliable revenue streams. In addition, Uber Taxi was offering incentives and bonuses to cab drivers before the launch of UberX. Uber has no problem paying bonuses and incentives at any level. Finally, these bonuses and incentives on the X level amount to subsidising contractors. That is a textbook illustration of unfair competition.
"In addition, the rules miss an opportunity to.... deal with congestion"-It was DUPE when Uber asserted this the first time, why is it suddenly NOT dupe? Uber wants congestion alleviated? Good: it, VIA and Lyft can shut down to-morrow and not be replaced.
Finally, Uber wants to hold "bases" accountable for "keeping cars full with paying passengers".-Spin and DUPE combined. They want to hold the cab bases responsible for the cab drivers not hauling the customers that the TNCs took from them, due to the TNCs' being permitted to compete unfairly. This will allow them to drive the cab bases out of business and eliminate the competition: DUPE. Uber tries to spin it by asserting that it will reduce congestion, something for which it offers no proof.
Spin, DUPE and LIES: this is just what we have come to expect from Uber.
