NYC Taxi Driver Kills Himself at City Hall after Condemning Uber & Politicians for Financial Ruin
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2018
- democracynow.org - New York City taxi drivers held a vigil on Tuesday to honor livery car driver Douglas Schifter, who killed himself in front of City Hall Monday morning after writing a long Facebook post condemning local politicians and Wall Street-backed apps like Uber for pushing him into financial ruin. He wrote, “I worked 100-120 consecutive hours almost every week for the past fourteen plus years. When the industry started in 1981, I averaged 40-50 hours. I cannot survive any longer with working 120 hours! I am not a Slave and I refuse to be one. … There seems to be a strong bias by the Mayor and Governor in favor of Uber. A Company that is a known liar, cheat and thief.” Over the past five years, the number of for-hire cars has more than doubled in the city, largely thanks to Uber. But the soaring number of cars has resulted in a financial crisis for many longtime taxi drivers who now struggle to get customers. We speak to Bhairavi Desai, executive director and co-founder of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which represents over 19,000 taxi drivers in New York City.
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This is deeper than Uber! How many jobs should you work to make it in this world! This entire world is backward!!!
Barb Stoll I agree. I just saw a report about how a certain hospital pays a "living wage". It was$11.36 an hour. I was shocked. That is not a "living wage". This why people choose everything that's cheaper. You have next to no disposable income even when you work 2 or 3 jobs. If employers won't pay at least $15.00 an hour as a minimum wage than I can't see people making any other choice but to continue to make the cheapest choice.
World, and most people who have the opportunity to work as a sub contractor filed they taxes wrong anyway..how the hell you a employee working for yourself
Barb Stoll Wait until the heavy trucks get replaced by robots. You will see some stuff.
Cindy Christian lol so a hospital is paying less than fast food places in NY? that's hilarious.
Nicolas Shane 3 thousand years? I believe it started in 1913
This a just a snap shot, of the economic crisis in the U.S.
Sherry Spectre
This isn't a crisis its progress.
Most people live above their means and incomes are low and if you have no insurance, illness will bankrupt you.
Steven perdue Not sure where you live, and , I am glad you're doing fine. However, you are the exception, not the rule. Peace.
it's the result of a much larger problem in the US and the world.
I didn't hear her mention anything about making sure cab drivers pick up everyone with no discrimination. Uber picks up everyone!
Yep
Facts
*£MPÊROR GÊLAWDÊOWŠ Ž €THIOPIA* you are paid by Uber
RIP Douglas Schifter. 😔
salman mirza 😔😔😔
God hates suicide
Chuck Chukwood we should not judge. Only God knows what he was going thru. We should be thankful for the support and blessing in our lives.
الله يرحمه 😢
Cab drivers were the most racist folk before uber or lyft, despite their race. This guy probably passed up black people like they didn't have money to spend, not crying.
We must tax every goddamned wall street transaction. Tax theft of trillions can not stand.
An aspiring worker who wants a middle class wage takes out a loan of risk to purchase a medallion that makes him legal to supply a taxi service in the big city. He works day and night to pay the note and to pay a salary for himself. Along comes a phone app that bypasses the medallion institution and lets common people with cars act on phone messages to bypass the rules. Isn't that a little like legal immigration versus illegal immigration? The institutions of economy, law and government are undermined, and become a burden for the law abiding fool. Obeying the laws becomes a path to frustration and ruin.
You make an excellent point. In a "gig" economy, it's very difficult for a person to live on wages from a 40-hour job anymore. Most people I know are working more than one job, often 7 days a week, yet are barely getting by. It's not getting better any time soon, sadly.
I see that Uber and Lift are spending big cash on lobbying politicians to undermine the "little people". These honest Americans are bankrupted without power to counter. In order for the Uber and Lift rules to supercede the medallion rules, legislation must pass that any holder of a medallion license who wants to leave the medallion system must be fully compensated by the interlopers at full market value + inflation at the time the laws were revised. This will give the Uber and Lift interlopers the burden of changing the rules to their benefit.
the teach I think you missed his point. You should reread his comment as he wasn't disparaging immigrants, illegal or otherwise.
I think you misunderstood the point he's making. I think his analogy is a good one, and he's not being "anti-immigrant".
Michele J, Jinx! I owe you a Coke! You probably aren't old enough to remember that saying. Funny, we were writing almost the same statement at the same time but you beat me by 11 seconds! LOL
Uber - the new WalMart!
Jim Hayes stupid wat the similarity of uber and Walmart?
Justin Watson you are kidding?!
taxi monopoly is over , they had it coming ...like it or not walmart customers see their savings in their pockets that`s why they exist , same with uber.
Jim Hayes .lol..extliy bro you are right100000000000000%
Walmart is 100 times better ...at least you end up with some money at the end...with uber you get nothing...
Between the police and the poverty, I’m furious with this country! I am ready to fight a gorilla war. Unfortunately everyone is too scared and desperate. Without a fight, I don’t see things getting better for the poor.
It hurts to care this much about others. Too many people are hurting for unnecessary reasons.
Vegas702 Then good luck organizing a resistance force. Hopefully you will have better luck moving the oppressed people to action. If we all demand our fair share of this planet 🌎 🌍 🌏 , then the powers that be will not be able to resist us. But we have to take care of the needs of everyone until the system is fixed, ie people may lose support which will need to come from the movement.
You may be surprised at how many people feel the same way you do. I think they are trying to push us into war while they go hide on their islands and yachts. Just like any other war of the past, mostly the innocent die and the perpetrators fly away to some hidden bunker and camp out until all the destruction is completed. People need to be far more strategic than they have been in the past. The perpetrators need to be located and taken out. The global banks need to be forced to disclose the identity of the individuals pulling the strings. Money flow needs more transparency. Remember the guilty hide along side groups of the innocent.
You can't fight the Deep State. They have all the guns, all the property and all the capital. Watch this and lighten up, bro.
th-cam.com/video/OdkKhWjQIeM/w-d-xo.html
zane shamo it is spelled spelled.
@ jz94117 , George Carlin's humor can't lighten up anyone who is able to think . He used his bitter humor to wake up those sleepy people .
Be careful if you planning to do Uber. Don't finance a new car for it, know their requirements and get a car that meets them. Drive during peak periods only and have your limits in how far you go to pickup riders: you can drive 30 minutes to get a 5 minutes ride= loss, and Uber don't care. This strategy is frowned upon by Uber and they recently we're kicking drivers out for doing it, and yet they say you're an independent contractor choosing your own hours. Bottom line is, don't consider this you full-time gig and pay attention to your numbers, if they don't add up, then you're just supporting this " startup".
c n Uber needs to be shut down
Throwing a tantrum because big brother won't force others to stop playing so you can be the winner. So sad
Am an Uber driver and I approve his message, Uber got blood in their hands, including whoever gave them the green light to rip us off continuously.
Rest In Peace innocent soul.
Uber and Lyft have to be resigstered, controlled and taxed like transportation companies not online companies, because that's what they actually are.
NY taxi drivers are a cultural icon of the city.
Cassettes, CDs, typewriters, and landline phones were all icons at one-point also. All good things come to an end.
can`t rely on being proud and be weak when changes come... monopoly fails at the end.
Patricia Blue back and in the days not now
Things change deal with it
I haven't taken a regular taxi in ten years. Gypsy cab! They cheap and you pay a reasonable price.
Cab drivers have been ripping is off for many decades...spoiler alert $2.50 - $4 a mile is not a fair price.
80 cents a mile is also not fair.
UBER mist raise it's price...
But that does not give the state the right to regulate ridesharing.
UBER is changing the world for the better...I take young people back and forth to work every single day to jobs that they could never get to on a bus or ever afford to pay cab fare to get to...those people are free because of UBER...
And I don't give a fig or a duck for cab companies that have been charging Cab drivers the full retail value of the vehicle every six months for the privilege of overcharging for a simple ride across town.
Cab drivers can switch to UBER...as opposed to suicide...
The taxicab industry needs to die..not the drivers.
How much of that 2.50 a mile is the driver pocketin?
Taxis kept driving by black folks...nnnnext!
Cab drivers are suffering because passengers they once refused to pick up are greatful Lyft and Uber does not discriminate. I am a female and dressed professionally for work and a cab was hard to get no matter what time of day. I remember cabs on every corner just passing me by. I don't feel sorry for them.
What did he do with money having worked this long when uber and lyft wasnt around? Ppl seem to blame everyone else for their problem except themselves.
I started driving for uber 2 years ago and yes its a low wage and hard job. Driving takes a toll on your body. I knew that from start. What did I do? I invested all the money i earned in rental properties. Now, im cashflowing 3k every month after expenses. So its not what happens, rather its what people do that makes the difference.
Stop blaming people for your problems!
This will be a moot point once driverless cars are more mainstream...
According to Paul Ryan he should have seen a $1.50 per week increase on his paycheck. What more do you need? *sarcasm*
Rupert Giles
Damn that was so good
Rupert Giles Uber is ruthless. But ruthless is competition that Republican and Democrats approve of
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles so funny how liberals don't care that illegal immigrants are do this to hard working American citizens but we should show them compassion not deport them how hypocritical, retarded liberals don't realize that Uber is free market company that is more efficient than taxi cab , deregulation makes it possible for Uber to give a cheaper price for the same service, I personally love that they outsmarted the government, taxi companies fought to make these laws to hold competition down , way to go UBER
allen mccall, let's blame the illegal immigrants because illegal immigrants can't drive Uber.
I am boycotting uber and reccomending boycott to everyone.
Thank you
And then you use LYFT...
Patricia Blue
you cant boycott corporate america! Too Big To Fail
Are you boycotting Netflix? Are you boycotting all the auto manufacturers? Come on man. You can’t blame Uber. It’s the game that’s rigged, not the players.
Patricia, I always take a cab. NEVER uber. The corruption is so bad.
Sadly some of Rideshare drivers i came across said that they have jobs in tech companies, but they want extra cash in their hands and at the same time they are killing time. This is a bad news for people who are actually making a living by driving taxi or Rideshare .
this is not just a US problem its global.
Edward Morley. Stop lying uber and lyft start here
lol so? where a problem starts is irrelevant at this point because its a global issue and every country will haft to deal with it how they see fit. did i even say anything a lot where they started? even if we ended it in our own country regardless if thats where they started here or not. that wouldn't end it around the world. so where did i lie and or whats your point about them starting here?
Edward Morley some countries who care for their citizens already banned uber. Spain, Mexico and there's more to come
spain ban it? nice.
by under cutting they displays regular taxi drivers. along with paying shit to the people who work for them.
I have driven Taxi (three different companies) as well as driving UBER and LYFT.
In all these jobs I was an independent contractor, not an employee.
I was much more of a slave when driving Taxi then when driving rideshare because the overhead cost is so much greater with a Taxi. COMMON SENSE: There is something wrong with a system where Taxi medallions costing a million dollars!!
For the people (the riders) UBER/LYFT is much better. The rider gets a fixed price that is much less. There is adequate insurance. Riders are ALWAYS telling me how much better, cleaner cars, friendly drivers, and faster service UBER/LYFT are.
The Taxi industry was vulnerable because they were overpriced, and out of control business abusing the public. They need to get their act together and compete.
For those who bought a million dollar medallion thinking they would be earning more than computer programmers earn while doing such an unskilled job (anyone can drive), the rip-off gig is over. They made a bad investment. Their license to rip-off and abuse the riding public is revoked. The people have prevailed.
Robert Fenlon thank you
Not everyone can drive in NYC lol.
But not everybody can drive taxi!
May your soul rest in Peace.
Yes they do. Near death experiences will indicate this.
I work for Lyft... they need to stop hire people!! Just stop. Ws have 50 diver at night logged in on Lyft .. + uber and taxi.. No one can get any customers. That's ridiculous
Go T.o dammmn 😁😁😁😁 you killed it
The same way you feel , that others should not join lyft, the same are feeling those poor taxi drivers about YOU. YOU and others stupid drivers who joined Uber should not jump in this rocky train, that destroyed an industry. And as a result, this poor man that worked for 30 years, had to kill himself, because YOU want to support this new crazy idea. Hope you feel good
keep up with the times and get over it....or move to another country. They also have automated checkouts at the grocery store, thus replacing jobs. soon there will be robot waiters etc.....I was homeless living in alleyways and dumpsters for like 2 years and I never blamed others for my problems.
Ana Katnin taxi drivers had a GREAT run. Overcharging, selectively choosing who to take, vehicles that reek of cigarette smoke, playing music that wasn't accommodating to their patrons and so on and so on. Their demise was so much their own doing it's a little funny to see them cry about it now. I'm African American and live 15 minutes from NYC and it's a fact that few are as racist as the New York Taxi driver. I never experience racism from a ride sharing service. That alone is enough for me to welcome and recommend this free market solution.
CostlyChris exactly! well said.
Ana Katnin Fairness and equality clearly mean nothing to you
Lou Ramirez please, ride sharing is very fair so is the automation of cars. What would you have society do, pretend innovations didn't happen so a very select few can continue to monopolize a whole industry?
You make no mention of what I wrote above because you know I was being factual so instead you try to make it into some sort of moral issue. Like if you don't help Mr. Singh keep the lifestyle when he became accustom too then your evil and support Slavery.
It's a bullshit argument and you know it.
Simply put, ride-sharing companies need regulations, there's a reason the rides are so cheap, it's at a cost to the drivers. Taxi driver companies need to compete by instating their own app system or they will never have a chance.
Taxis have apps, I think they were late in using them. The problem with taxis was there weren't as many drivers as Uber was able to generate, so riders became spoiled with the "ride 5 minutes away" as opposed to "maybe 45 minutes"; drivers who are gullible and fall for the lies Uber (and Lyft) tell about the income potential. A high percentage quit because they HAVE other jobs to fall back on; some of us don't have that luxury.
good points.
Actually they do ad is off the books also i just wish more people knew about the app
If only i knew how to make a app i will make one better then uber and lyft since being a cab driving is being ur own boss let the driver do what they have to do for them and only charge a way smaller percent then uber and lift just that some companies are so greedy
David Warschauer agreed, infact if there was marketing by the taxi industry developed and promoted these app, I'm sure people would choose wisely.
Have you ever rode in a nyc cab? They really have been ripping us off for years. The meter runs before you get in, it’s way expensive. It’s just easier to walk or use a cheaper alternative. Sad this guy bought his way in, at times in the 80s/90s those medallions were very expensive. At the same time money was good then. Sucks either way.
Taxis are cheaper at night and convenient when you're in a rush. Yellow cabs are also cheaper for JFK.
He should have just applied/drove for Uber. Its called get a New Job, why take your life...🤔. Something stinks (Don't make since...💩)
He probably owned a taxi medallion and was still paying it off.
What happens when you charge people $20.00 to go three blocks !
This is unfortunate. Taxi companies should compete. Taxi prices have increased in the last 10-15 yrs a lot of customers always complain about that.
Gypsy Dust oh please they know they can not compete with a service that tends to be cleaner, nicer, fairer priced, and way less racist as whole as Taxis have historically been. It's too late to cry about spilled milk. Same dude who killed himself probably wouldn't pick you up if you was alone in the city at 3 am and desperately needed to get home. He probably would ask you where your going and say he isn't interested or busy.
CostlyChris yeah but their is still racist customers/riders who rate you poorly or constantly reject you when you’re the only one to pick them up...but yeah you have a point, my dads an independent cabie so I still feel for them.
i think if angels exist they wud be like Amy Goodman
love & respect from Kashmir
Isn't she wonderful and wise? She has been a true professional for a very long time. I like going back and seeing her old interviews from years past.
Hey I'm from India. Can you point me to some good unbiased sources on the Kashmir issue. From an Anarchist Socialist point of view preferably. Where Religion Nationalism and Capital aren't put over individual freedom.
ARIAN MUHAMAD
i really admire/respect Amy-DemNow, but u must provide proof, Brah
Aamir khan Solidarity with Kashmir, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Pratyush how dare you try to be logical!!
Don't you know the traditional rules about not going against the grain of the church mafia?
They will likely chant that you are going directly do hell, for the eternal lake of fire because they're religiou$ narcissists. #ReligiousNarcissism
This isn't about Ride sharing. This is about a monopoly crying foul now that their system been broken. Taxi drivers going the way of Blockbuster, Great. They have a track record of being racist anyway.
Uber and Lyft rates are ridiculously low and it’s hard to survive if someone depending on these type of jobs, people don’t tip either
Before Uber I would have never called a cab to go downtown. It was simply too expensive. Now I do quite often.
You are assuming I live in a place where they are trains to take me downtown. Maybe think before you post next time.
@@Tabish29 cheap vs economically smart learn the difference stinky cab driver
Just because your stuck in a taxi business has nothing to do with Uber and the progress of the people! I would think the guys who drove horse and buggy’s were also upset with Henry Fords Motel T. The work is changing and progress happens. If your stuck in the past with an NY taxi it’s time me time move on!
What ultimately doom the taxi industry was the lack of keeping up with the times, failure to improve it's customer service and prices...etc.
Shocked....but cabs drive slow on purpose and meter at 5$ before you even put on seatbelt. They been ripping us off forever.
This was the problem w/ Taxi drivers, 8yrs ago we got Taxi from international airport to Alexandria & we paid $80-$100.
Now we did the same w/ Uber & they charged $30 some dollars, Can you dee the problem???
If you can't then screw you, we Uber drivers wanna make extra $ in spare time, at least we are cheaper than the Taxi guys.
Thanks to Uber and Lyft for such convenience ride share companies.
Don't cry, become One!
glad live in uk where we kicked uber in the nuts
A medallion isn't worth shit nowadays.
Wallaby so Crazy SMH you have no clue what your talking about! A medallion is worth a $1,000,000 in Super major cities ie NYC, San Fran Boston y Miami.
manuel kyriakakis of course not! Not now! However, if you own a medallion out right w 3 drivers on shift you make money.....off the daily lease....my comment was directed at the dude who smugly said " no money on medallions" thats just not true....private black car drivers now have to compete w uber y medallions bc of these crazy competitors like uber....the real issue is the monopoly that Uber has in market y their unfair business practices.
manuel kyriakakis Spot on the cleptocracy point....the lobbyists buying major cities TLC have hurt the industry....yet what was the counter position of the Unions? smh ....I understand that mans despair ....may he RIP😓....Now its time for 'Davids' to go agaisnt the so called Goliath! To have a defeated position will not cure this problem.... "being casual causes you to 2 become a casualty" Les Brown"
you said I didn't know what i was talking about then agreed with me a comment later lol. Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.
Wallaby so Crazy noooo I did not agree w you! Listen, you questioned the medallions worth? I said I wouldn't buy one now bc of these uber fools but I would have bought one 4 years ago! Who wouldn't SMH $2100 cash a week for a vehicle that is leased y a medallion paid in full?
What he did was pure idiotic.! In this instance, If you couldn't beat them... he should've join them.
As far as the livery cab industry goes, you’re not watching the crushing of an industry. You’re watching the breakup of a monopoly.
All he had to do was sign up as an Uber driver... Like seriously there's a whole Nathan For You episode and all the taxi drivers made more with Uber than they did before.
Art Vein that is not true
Hussein Farah actually it is. Nathan Fielder look it up. Takes about a week. My buddy moved out of the country and dropped out of school to Uber. He does Uber XL and makes more than I do all month in a weekend and I have two degrees. Sorry your buddy killed himself for no reason. Here's a cupcake 🍵🍰
Hussein Farah here you go, they tried to destroy Uber and after the joke taxi drivers found it better to join. th-cam.com/video/N9gbdv5cXKg/w-d-xo.html You're welcome.
Art Vein Not true. The taxi driver that killed himself. Had to invest over a million or took out a loan for a medallion. N.Y. used to have an allotted number of taxi drivers allowed to work. So the goal was to work his was off to pay off the medallion. Then when he turned 65, he could resale the medallion for 2 million,pass it down to his family,or rent it out. After uber, his investment became dust.
Hussein Farah From what I have heard it is true.
Time change ask the buggy whip makers. Cabs were always overpriced in NYC
They have app and pickup and drop up rapidly.some times uber pick up 40 and cab 5 fares .cab must be more expensive ba ecsuse of expodit fee.
Like allowing illegal actions, to take jobs?" Flooding" any market, lowers the number of every oppty.
The sad part is that is 15-20 years all Taxis and Uber will be gone due to autonomous vehicles. The industry is almost dead.
as bad as uber is, the other side that pushed this man to suicide should also be scrutinized, probably with even more vigor. this was a fully-grown adult who still had trouble managing his finances and debt. the most important thing i've ever learned is how to plan for financial independence and i didn't learn about that school; i feel like probably should have. our society functions on debt and wage slavery. uber is just another entity taking advantage of the way things have always been. trying to put a leash on the gig industry would just be putting a bandaid over a slit throat.
Snowball Effect just curious, is Netflix bad for making Blockbuster video obsolete? What about all the auto plant employees replaced by robots? If a better, more convenient, cheaper alternative comes along......... don’t blame the players,blame the game.
@chris netflix isn't underpaying their employees the way uber and lyft do. The taxi and limousine industry definitely needs to adapt to a world where they don't have a monopoly anymore, but Uber and Lyft are not paying their employees anything near a living wage unless they own a luxury vehicle. Their main goal is to build up hype and try and wait until self-driving vehicles become road-legal.
Like I mentioned before, though, there is a separate issue where people work all their lives and still don't have the financial know-how to be able to retire comfortably. This nation is financially illiterate and most people are victims of the consumerist lifestyle that advertisers peddle to us through media. We're more afraid of the Muslims who don't live anywhere near us when a leading cause of death for adults is suicide. 30,000 people a year die from motor-vehicular accidents. 100,000 die from smoking-related illnesses. Yet we're more worried about Muslims as we eat cheeseburgers and drink liquid sugar with the most expensive healthcare system in the world and no socialized healthcare payment system. The vast majority of Americans are in debt in some form or fashion.
Real freedom comes from financial independence. When you don't have to work to survive, you're free to do whatever you like.
Uber is a great company it's so much better than most taxis companies in my opinion. Limousine companies on the other hand are specialized, most people would agree professional driver's certainly provide a great service to their passengers. However many people can't afford a professional driver or a limousine. Uber fills the void, but doesn't takes the place of personal drivers. Professional driver's are here to stay at least until automation of personal vehicles began. 😁 I'm proud of uber it's one of worlds greatest modern innovations, it revolutionized the transportation industry.
This is going on around the world , not just in New York .
This tragic case highlights how Uber are doing this in all major cities across the globe whilst government or local councils accommodate them .
I see no hope for the honest working single small man anymore they are being crushed by the big money machine companies who are crushing the working man , whilst they get fatter .
Cab Drivers need protection around the world ! from being flooded , they are drowning .
There needs to be caps and a level playing field ! They need protection !
This is sad but he could have just became an uber driver instead of blaming other companies or politics this is a free market country buddy
These two are not mentioning the real problem. Taxi companys are struggling because of government regulations and fees. If taxi drivers cannot compete in a 21st century environment they will go away. That is progress.
yeah they should compete for pennies instead of being paid a fair wage...
+JohnP. You are a simpleton if you think its not wise to have transporters that need to have insurance, proper training, reasonable wages and so on. If you think the Wild West is an ideal, go to Somalia. A Capitalistic service based economy destroying its own foundation, aka middle class and down buying power, is not progress. Its regressive that will eat everyone at one point.
Lobos222- Nonsense. Capitalism has given Americans the best quality of life ever experienced In the history of the world. Progress often means some companies will disappear. Stopping innovation to keep cab companies in business is something you might see in a leftist country but the free market is supposed to actually be free here.
john p standard of living is a bad argument, slaves in the early 19th century had a better standard of living than slaves in the 18th century, is that an argument for slavery?
workersdemocracy- Murders in the 19th century had a better standard of living than in the 18th century, is that an argument for murdering?? Nice try. Slavery has nothing to do with anything I have said
Why not just become an Uber driver 🤷🏾♂️
Chris Rock, ther
He did but didn't make shit
Harjinder Singh if more cab drivers did that eventually it would be profitable for the remainder.
Because he probably owned the medallion and was still paying it off.
I couldn't figure out how is Uber able to operate changing customers below operating costs. Now I know, they have friends in high places that steer federal money (taxpayers money) to them, making it possible to kill the honest working taxi driver. The CEO of Uber and all the politicians involved in this corrupt scheme should face justice!
Douglas Shifter is a martyr.
We need to raise the rates back up. I'm an ex taxi, Uber/Lyft driver. The problem is that us drivers have no rights; which is why I'm launching a website to create a law for Transportation Network Companies, and for Independent Contractors to compete with the Pro Act (HR2474) and supercede laws like California AB5 by Senator Lorena S Gonzalez.
One must adapt to survive. This has always been true and no amount of political correctness will overcome this fact. People must be willing to live in rural areas, not just cities. If you can't afford to live in the city, MOVE!
Lisa D agree. Too many people complaining but not changing with times.
Lisa D Easier said than done.
All I can remember is taxis being thieves. Uber stopped that extortion, and made it much more efficient. Impossible to go back.
Irrational behavior.
David Song it's dirty terrorist behavior. "You ruin my monopoly so either fix it or have blood on your hands"... they need to know they can't Jihad their problems away.
There is no amount of dirt that makes money too dirty for a politician
This is so funny to me. It seems just like the gun control debate these guys are mad at you Uber instead of being mad at the taxi companies for not staying with the times the world is changing and people need to be ready and willing to change with it the same thing happened with Redbox but you didn’t seeVideo stores killing themselves and nobody freaked out at Redbox over this
Uber Driver will need to be ready for change when self driving cars arrive
The Benjamin Banks This is not ground level playing, uber bribed these politicians and are operating ILLEGAL taxi companies.
Veer Jat they aren’t a taxi company. They are contractors. Also taxi drivers take advantage of people and people can’t stand taking taxis any more. This industry needs to change. No job is guaranteed to continue to remain the same. I could lose my job tomorrow if the company decides to change and I’m not willing to change with it.
The Benjamin Banks They are plain and simple ILLEGAL taxis, this type of illegal operation has existed in the past which was called GYPSY taxis, sooner or later this will shut down, EUROPEAN UNION court has already declared UBER a TAXI COMPANY. You call drivers "contractor" who got no say in their so called "contract" no negotiations not deals, it's uber way or highway. Uber is more dangers for its own drivers than taxi companies, uber is taking advantage of those who are unable to calculate their expense, time, investment properly. Uber is running modern day slavery.
LOL its not modern day slavery when they are choosing to do this job and are getting paid for it not to mention can leave any time they want. Doesnt anyone know what slavery was anymore? look taxi companies have been ripping people off for way too long and I have no sympathy for them. the rates are ridiculous and they are mean and rude. no one likes taking taxis anymore. my wife and I have used uber and the cars were clean and well kept and the drivers have all been super polite. unlike every taxi I have ever rode in. Am I supposed to keep supporting a business that is expensive and the drivers are rude and taxi cars are pretty nasty inside. I think instead of complaining and trying to force people to use old worn out service they should find a way to compete and maybe provide better rates and service. the world is changing and they need to be willing to change to. also they might want to have their drivers mental stability checked. luckally the taxi driver killed himeslf and not his passengers. he obviously wasnt stable to begin with. because if he was and he was unhappy with his job he could have invested in himself and got a better career. this reminds me of the lazy mcdonalds workers that were fighting for $15 minimum wage. they arent even worth $15 an hour to do that job. people need to get their head out of their ass.
Very important discussion Amy. Great interview also.
No it's not, it's a nonsense discussion. Get real please.. We are talking about a complete shit job that practically anyone (including robots in the near future) could do. You are basically saying it's fine to have people have crummy jobs and get paid a crummy salary for it, barely being able to live. This is the same nonsense trump is talking about when he speaks about coal. Jesus, will you people stop parroting and start to think for yourself just for once? The guy has been working 100+ hours a week for over 15 years to make ends meet.. before! Uber came along. And you think it's a shame he can't anymore?
Anyone can drive a car, I drive a car to work everyday, and it's not even part of my job requirements. Something anyone can do is not rewarded highly, and seriously, why even call it an occupation.. It's despite having a job that you drive a taxi, clean toilets or, indeed, suck cock. Again, get real...
I have never used Uber and Lyft and never will. I used to use cabs everyday for years and years. It felt safe and I had friendships with many drivers. They were working hard to provide for their kids. I hope they get rid of both those companies. They have destroyed lives
Funny how quick a monopoly changes it's tune
Condolences. Now white america sees firsthand what black men have had to endure for god knows how long as far as economic disenfrachisement...and we often expected to push through and accept it.
cd you are right cd you are right now they see what black men go through
The issue discussed in this vid affects mostly Sikh and Muslim immigrants. How is it concluded that _…white america [sic] sees firsthand what black men have had to endure…_ from this discussion?
cd
Are you serious. That’s just one white guy, named dough Schiffer, who killed himself. Most Caucasians are doing fine.
Vegas702 how exactly are black people oppressing themselves when it has been proven that white people have an easier time getting a job with the same qualifications? There was a black woman who pretended to be white to get interviews because she wasn't getting any as a black woman.
Just wait till cars are autonomous, there'll be a whole lot more suicides. This guy should have learned to adapt with changing times. You can't expect jobs, trades, and markets to be stagnant
That's not the argument the opposition to the ride sharing apps is making, that everything should be stagnant. The argument is that the ride sharing companies are financed by deep pockets who are well connected and rig the system in their favor. It's not like Uber was just outplaying everyone under the same rules. People think that just because a business is run through an app that it is fundamentally different- that's false. Maybe the cab cartel needed to be subject to competition, but letting a competitor disregard the standards in place for existing ride services clearly is not fair competition.
How are they not outplaying everyone? People want cheep convenient transportation.
Louis Cipher Not easy when you're old. Plus, some of those cab drivers paid hundreds of thousands, even millions, to obtain the taxi medallions. So they were heavily vested.
+Louis. No one will adapt if the buying power for the general public is destroyed in a consumer based economy. Because there wont be anyone left to consume. When fully automated cars come, specially if its soon, I wouldnt be surprised if you see regulation to prevent the removal of drivers. Not because of the fear of driving going hungry, but because the rich will start to see their domestic marked shrinking.
Lobos222 well, all that addresses a bigger problem. Uber itself has created jobs and provided an extra income to elderly. He let his pride get in the way. He was working 150 hours a week, he should have transitioned
I don't see how removing millions of consumers from the system is going to help the economy. This can only end in a serious depression that would be much worse than 1929.
The worst part is that they seem to be pushing for a federal gov. so weak that it will be every state for themselves(disasters, esucation, jobs...ect) . Not the world what i want my grandchildren to live in.
No one forced him to work as a taxi driver he could've done like many other normal people and learn a trade and do it
Yellow cab drivers use to show themselves against black people in NYC.They use to pass black people without stopping.Thank God for Uber and Lyft for bringing service to us.
They uses to pass them because they didn’t pay.
Genesis Real info Report.
The unemployment rate amongst black men is the highest of all groups👈🏽worry about that.
Good point
JCsTurn68 C Uber and Lyft give us jobs.We are working now.
Genesis Real info Report.
Good for you.
Hmm, maybe the city could get rid of the medallions and help level the playing field. 🤨
Yogo Sapphire uber effectively killed the medallion anyways.
I'm a born and raised New Yorker just moved to LA... I see the need for Uber and Lyft here but New York didn't need it. At all. We have yellow cabs and now green cabs for Brooklyn and Queens plus the Gypsy cabs, not to mention a subway on every corner and busses... The fact that our political leaders didn't protect New York from these companies is a tragedy. I never used Uber in New York but a lot of people were and I noticed that the "Gypsy" cabs would be working for three companies at once! There own base, plus Uber and Lyft!
The problem is government corruption.
I use uber and m happy!!!! Yellow are things of the past .....
I pay $2400 monthly on insurance and car payments, driving with Uber, and I'm not complaining. I make it happen still.
Yes rates are lower, but NYC is flooded with customers. If you work 70 hours a week, you'd be able to easily make $2000 per week.
Some drivers are lazy, entitled, mentally lazy or just dumb.
take for example, as a yellow cab driver, if you strictly do JFK to Manhattan, each fair is $50. Yellow taxis have guaranteed rides from JFK. do this trip 6 times, and you make $300 per day. This is $2100 per week.
I'm sorry, some drivers are idiots, lazy entitled.
bossdrax this is all about someone fucking with their monopoly. Plain and simple. Indian/Pakistani community is trying to use and abuse this nation liberal heart to ensure that their lowest skilled immigrants can still have this great job all to themselves.
Thank you ride sharing, as a African-American it was always questionable whether or not I could even hail a taxi or a gamble on whether or not they would overcharge me. That's a non issue with Lyft and Uber. They changed the game and I'm more than happy to give my money to a White boy that respect my business over an entitled foreign that feels serving me is beneath them.
bossdrax yeah 70hrs a week u consider hardwork,I can guarantee you will end up wheelchair bro
2400. Wtf u drive a rolls royce?
bossdrax l
You are right bro people are just lazy and expect money to go in their accounts . You must adapted to your environment, I know Uber drivers who make 1,500 and some who make 800 but it goes down to patience and knowledge.
They use more money on lobbying than Wal-Mart, Microsoft and Amazon combined.
Horah! I am a 56yr old single female who had much one day ago,.. I had frozen french fries for 2 meals yesterday!
Mr. President what did you eat yesterday??
There is no protection for anyone anymore.. It is all about "who dies with the most jewels wins"!
I am pretty tired too...
Why should taxis have a monopoly on a whole entire passenger transport business? For decades people have had to put up with rude, late and overall shitty taxi drivers that you had no way of rating.
Why should Uber be allowed to use slave labor or have a hiring process that enables people to not really get payed, but to only transfer the value of their car into short term income. Until their car breaks down and they cant afford to fix it and have to go somewhere else anyway. Do you even understand the concept of scams... Let me guess. You dont understand why slavery was stopped or why kids cant work in coal mines if they "want to"...
Dumbest and corniest response I have ever heard. Look up the definition of "slavery". Slavery has something to do with ownership of a person and compelled servitude. Notwithstanding the obvious lack of research in your answer (avg. of hrly earnings by Uber drivers even considering cost and depreciation of the car is equivalent to taxi drivers before Uber), the answer to your dumbass question is because in America people are allowed to contract their services to perform legal activity to earn a living.
I am sorry but he didn’t change jobs Now you know UBER is looking for drivers sorry 😐
Arishark3 A IKR!!
Nope Uber is looking for self driving car.. Rest In peace Uber drivers.
Tencruise Zoreal you realize that is the end for o driver don’t kill your soul for job
You don't know and understand what it costs to be able too own and operate a taxi. Nor do you understand how much you're actually paid working on uber/lyft.
-did you even watch the video?
FUCK YOU !!!!
What about the Blackmen who were ran out of the taxi business in the 60s 70s and 80s do to foreigners.
Me: Um drive for uber?
Taxi Driver : Nah bruh😐💥🔫
Not sure I get this discussion. If car driving is fully automated, wouldn't the branch die off as well? And taxi driving is a low skill occupation, so wages will be low no matter what. Also, why is business lobbying like described in the interview, not simply illegal in the US? Same goes for political lobbying. Why complain about lobbying when, apparently(?), it's a completely legal thing to do?
-Someone from Europe
Not a low skill occupation. Ever ridden in a cab with an untrained driver? And that's all that's left for this country. So called "low skill mc-gig jobs" In England the drivers must be graduates of a driving school. It is considered a very skilled position. Lobbying is for the corporations, not for the benefit of the citizens of the country, who must pay their taxes. Lobbying, and corporate control of our government are why we are in this sad state of de-professionalizing and union destruction. The Real News Is ran a series on the New Deal recently. Good program. I recommend it.
I didn't imply there's nothing more to it than hitting the gas and being able to navigate, but it is a low skill job regardless. Sorry, it just is. I was a cabby for 3 years actually and the most valuable skill there is to it has nothing to do with being able to drive or navigate, but is to know how to socialise and handle difficult (read: drunk) people.
namnack not agreeing with low skill comment but I like your point
I don't get why anyone wouldn't agree with that, other than on the basis of emotion.. I was both a cabby and an IT manager, believe me, the one or two skills required to drive around people in a city does not compare to the skill set required to manage an IT department. How is driving around people in a car an occupation that requires a high skill set? Compared to what? Folding boxes in a factory? (Which I also did) Come on, be realistic here..
Are you saying that skill requirements are not measurable? And I'm not a job, so I fail to see how you could 'do that to me'.
It is so sad that he took his own life but who was forcing him to work as a taxi driver this is America, choose a different career. Douglas shifter is a sad man who took his own life over a job.
sheshe7 j exactly. And Uber helped more people find work where they couldn't. Adapt or roll over
kausmo tumynski The fact of the matter is he killed himself over money.
Suicide is not the answer! But until you endure the pain, heartaches, stress, depletion, debt, and poverty that Douglas Schifter faced, you cannot judge. Don't spend time on his decision for his life, the most important point is the level of poverty that is being pressed on many Americans. You may not be enduring this level of poverty. Others are suffering.
It might be easy for someone young to change careers but for someone old, companies don't like to hire old people. It's one reason why many old people are homeless.
+she. " who was forcing him to work as a taxi driver" Hes debt, investment (time/money), obligations to the medallion and age and eduction limiting other options. Specially in context family bills. In short, grow up and stop being so naive you stupidly argue the case for people that want to make your future work life a living hell.
There is life after cab driving. I drove before Uber. Life doesn't owe you a living, they say.
Greed (hate) is sucking the joy out of life and destroying the planet.
this lady is lying. NYC uber regulations are exactly the same as yellow taxi driver and car requirements.
bossdrax she just wants more money for her community (Indian-Pakistan). NYC taxi were horrible when they had the monopoly. They are crying foul because they know if given a choice people wouldn't want to put up with them.
bossdrax WRONG!
Fuck up
CostlyChris A monopoly is ONE company. UBER is worth over 2 billion dollars. No cab company boasts anything near that. Keep taking UBER and LYFT. If you find yourself in an accident you will learn the hard way that the driver's insurance won't cover you, you agreed not to sue UBER, and that leaves you suing the driver who has no deep pockets. You may win a judgement (4 years later) in court but you won't be able to collect. The driver has to declare bankrupt because he cannot pay, which will ruin his life, you will be stuck with health problems and an enormous medical bill, a d UBER walks away with the money Scott free
You can't stop progress.
Oh yes you can, let's have a nuclear war!
Why is there a disparity in the regulations where one business runs unfettered and one heavily restricted? Can someone explain. I don't understand.
Hard to get taxi uber is still the most convenient ride available
He became broke, what it have to do with Uber. Uber saves many people money.
Alexander Kuznetsov yea the riders
Jay H haha. Bro u r SPOT ON !!
Good riddance, there’s no honor among the weak.
I wrote this a little more than a year ago:
I think Capitalism and free markets, well relatively free markets have been a huge benefit to society. They have spread wealth all over the world and raised living standards, led to tremendous innovation and lives people even 100 years ago could never imagine. We live longer, communicate easily over great distances with little cost or even for free, few of us go hungry or lack shelter. Yes, there are examples of people who have been hurt by Capitalism, but if we just view it all statistically, the human race as a whole is much much better off.
Now we seem to be moving toward a Post Capitalism world. Human labor is becoming less important and the pace of change will accelerate to a point where there simply aren't new jobs to replace those lost.
This represents a new page in our human story. A kind of fork in the road where we choose to be Pro-Humanity and ensure a basic living standard to all or allow all the gains of the lower costs of production to go to a few ultra-wealthy individuals.
Ironically, America was founded in a large part of people escaping a ruling class in Europe to get religious freedom or whatever. However, it seems that European nations are experimenting with the Pro-Humanity route while the United States is moving toward the permanent ruling class.
We have the preeminent economy in the world because we embraced Capitalism, but unless we are willing to let go, life in America will be pretty miserable for the vast majority. People can no longer get ahead simply by working hard, saving and investing wisely, which worked incredibly well at least up through the 2008 Financial Crisis and perhaps somewhat even now. Millennials will feel the impact of the change and the next generation will likely spend their "working" life in the Post-Capitalism world.
That's how I see it.
Netflix is to Blockbuster as Uber is to cabs. Faster, cheaper, and a better service.
Thanks for the gig economy Obama.
chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/ethics-board-fines-obama-campaign-manager-90k-for-uber-lobbying/
nypost.com/2017/01/09/you-can-blame-obamas-gig-economy-for-the-election/
www.fastcompany.com/3066798/obamas-chief-labor-standards-enforcer-wants-the-gig-economy-to-work-for-workers
9:20
Thank you Ronald Regan for Trickle Down Economics. Thank you Bill Clinton for NAFTA, Thank you Bush for the Patriot Act. They are all puppets controlled by the real people in power. POTUS is just an office, they are not kings.
It's not the fault of government, politicians, or Wall Street.....it's about tuning into what's happening IN THE NOW and "RECOGNIZING" new opportunities and ADJUSTING to those opportunities. U either CHANGE YOURSELF or get left behind.
The taxi cab drivers didn't fight against the taxi commission when the commission was corrupt in their handling the medallions, so screw them.
Guys myself 10 years professional NYC taxi driver last 3 years working with UBER my opinion about whole current situation price cut is truly unacceptable but don't forgot 90% yellow taxi owning by some Uneducated Mafia they are just another oppersor .
The world is changing. Time to compete , not complain. Stupid Taxi companies.
When Amazon came online bookstores closed all over America. When Netflix came online Blockbuster and hundreds of video rental stores went belly up. Now Uber and Lyft are online and people are crying about smelly taxi cabs going under? If you can't beat them join them. Get with the trend or be buried. You cannot stop progress.
Dhaat Dhood they are just mad their monopoly is gone. These Taxi drivers was mean, mad, and racist 9 times out of 10. They picked and choose who to take and had an air of superiority to them. Good riddance!
CostlyChris Absolutely right. They overcharged us for decades. I hope uber and Lyft decimate the yellow cab industry
I am sorry to hear that. That's mean he was working more than 15 hours every day. Of course he is tired should put a law against uber and lyft to determine limit of how many drivers should have and if pass by the city. Should put very strong law against uber and lyft
As with London taxi drivers, NYC Taxi drivers are an institution...RIP...