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.
Read related story: A tale of two Uber laws — and the main differences
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?
Read related story: As legislation looms, Uber goes mafioso with ad campaign
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.
Watch as Uber’s intimidating tactics catch fire added by Ladra on
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Hi Ladra:Further more, what has been happening here with Lyft first in May ,2014 and Uber 2 weeks later coming into the Transportation Market in Miami/Dade without permission and breaking every law known to mankind has been reprehensible:As my wife Holly has been saying is the only people upset about it are the people in the business who have Permits and are light because Uber and Lyft Passengers are getting rides for practically free to try and destroy us in the Car hire Business:Ladra has a point,On top of it all the illegal money that Uber and lyft have been making has been going to Campaign contributions,Paid lobbyists like Lyft,Jorge Luis Lopez,Uber,Ballard Chip Iglesias,And consultants galore,Talk about the Mafia ? Who the hell do these people think their kidding :They: Uber and Lyft have everyone bought under the Sun.Guess what? PEOPLE LIKE THE UNITED STATES JUSTICE DEPT DECIDE TO LET THIS GO LIKE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED EVERY PERSON WHO OWNS A PERMIT MIGHT AS WELL CONSIDER IT INVALID ! HOW CAN MIAMI/DADE COUNTY AND HIS HENCHMAN TURN THEIR BACK ON PEOPLE WHO HOLD PERMITS:MAYOR GIMENEZ AND HIS ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN PLAYING A VERY DIRTY GAME:THE TRUTH WILL ALL COME OUT IN TIME MY FRIENDS:
Hi Ladra:Hmm,Read my lawsuit against Uber,Lyft and Miami-Dade,I own a car service in Miami and been in the car hire business for 30 years,I never owned a taxi,The people that keep defending Uber and lyft are the drivers who drive for uber and lyft undercutting our rates:That’s like getting a permit to operate a hotdog stand in Miami and someone coming right next to you without one :Is that fair? Watching Uber and Lyft Operate with their Drivers is like watching the American Greed program :Uber is Valued @ 50 Billion by Venture Capital people,Do you really want to talk about the Mafia ? GIVE ME A BREAK :Ladra :You’re for real:We have not even started ,I mean the Car Hire operators to mount a social media campaign,But when and if we do look out,I personally think 2 can play that game,All uber and lyft have been is bribing all the Politicians with their billions :Money talks:I’m still waiting for the US Justice Dept to investigate all the BS lies and deceit put out by a bunch of liars and thieves : we love you Ladra !
Ladra says: “What’s different is that Monestime also buckled under tremendous pressure from Uber, which had launched online and radio ads attacking the chairman.”
Ladra is miss-reading the situation, the main reason for Uber’s victory is that Miamians are tired of the taxi mafia. Just listen to your readers, read their postings… get your head out of the micro-cosmos of political infighting.
Taxi medallion owners have been exploiting drivers and cheating passengers for many years. The medallion system started as a way to protect drivers, now it enslaves them.
Their time is over, their expensive medallions are worth less and less by the day … good riddance!
Uber and Lyft are not perfect, but they are a huge improvement on the current taxi system … that is the real reason why Monestime had to back down!
Ladra misunderstands the situation, and wrongly gives credit to lobbyists for this victory. Ladra’s conclusion is also wrong.
If other lobbyists want to imitated these tactics without public support they are bound to waste resources …. just like Jeb Bush’s current team!
…
Ladran Sancho!
I can’t imagine why you are supporting the disgusting taxis in this area unless you have some kind of dog in this fight.
I would walk or take public transportation before I would use a taxi in South Florida.
Uber is an incredible alternative and may be the only issue that would force the taxis to improve their service, quality and cleanliness of their vehicles.
Michael, I got no problem with Uber’s services. I will likely use them. My daughter already has.
What I have a problem with is the unfair way that this is happening. I think that if they are going to let Uber drivers use 10-year old cars, then taxis should not have to retire their vehicles after 7 years. If taxis are made to have insurance, the Uber should have to use insurance. If the county doesn’t MANDATE the fare for Uber, then it shouldn’t do so for the taxi cabs either. And I absolutely think we need to issue licenses after background checks. The county needs to know how many Uber cars are out there at any given time.
The taxi monopoly didn’t happen all by itself. It happened with the complicity of a local government that made thousands off the industry. In fact, this year’s budget has about $600,000 in regulatory income coming from taxi cabs and limousines. Why are they being treated differently? Especially now that they have an app, too? That’s my point.
Additionally, I didn’t like the strong arm intimidation campaign that I think will now be copied over and over.
Oh well.
Love, Ladra
Dear Publisher Reporter DeValle and Esteemed Political Cortadito Readers:
As someone who drove a taxicab for 23 full-time years, and whose father drove a taxicab for 15 full-time years before me, and who now drives for Uber and Lyft, I hope you won’t mind my submitting the following:
1. The real enemy here is the notion that any monopoly status was ever given to for-hire ground transportation in Miami, in Florida, in the United States, or in the world. Can you think of any genuine justification for exempting for-hire ground transportation from the free market system, which applies to every other business, INCLUDING YOUR OWN?
Why should YOU be subject to the free markets, and ground transportation companies not? Why should you have to worry about competition, and for-hire ground transportation companies not have to worry about competition?
2. In 1981, I was suffering from my mother’s surreptitious, secret, interstate Trustee mail and wire fraud against me, as well as official misconduct preventing me from getting a law license. I tried to earn a living driving a taxi, but the taxi monopoly system, whereby slumlord taxi medallion owners make all the money passively, preventing hard-working drivers from making a living wage, caused me to be hospitalized, for me to lose all hope of being able to marry and bear children, and my life to take a horrendous turn for the worse.
In 2014, thanks to Uber and Lyft, as I stared personal bankruptcy in the face, instead I was able to defy the taxicab monopoly economic ENSLAVEMENT, and make money as a driver for Uber, which — EVIDENCE GOD EXISTS, in my opinion — literally rescued me from total economic ruination !!!
3. For many decades, newspapers, through print advertising, had a lock on advertising income, and they used it to “afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted”, i.e. to help ordinary people deal with overpowering problems beyond their control.
4. In 2009-2015, Silicon Valley, enriched in part by digital advertising, now like newspapers, invests its money to ‘afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted’, as in — in the spirit of former President Theodore Roosevelt — fighting the evil of monopolies (then Standard Oil, the railroads, and so on).
5. Uber tried to fully convert for-hire ground transportation to the free market system, which Political Cortadito, and each of you, Esteemed Readers, must work in — and to end the monopoly system totally in for-hire ground transportation.
6. I submit that we should all support ending the monopoly system entirely for for-hire ground transportation, so that everyone has equal opportunity to work in this field, just as everyone has equal opportunity to work in the field in which you are employed.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
4848 SW 135 Place
Miami, FL 33175
P. 305-338-5000
E. [email protected]
Let’s not give too much credit to the lobbyists. Uber has an impressive policy team. If they can get the mayor of the biggest city in the country to fold, they certainly can get the chair of a county commission to fold.
In 2000 the Taxi Monopoly Did Just that and With The help Of Mayor Clark They Took control Of the For-Hire transportation. Lately Mayor Gimenez Said To Chanel 7 That he had * PROTECTED The Industry * Protection is a “Mafia” Term, and He Meant The Taxis, No One Talks about The LIMOS Because They Don’t Have lobbyist or Donate money so We are forgotten ! The Bovo Legislation GIVES UBER TOTAL CONTROL OF THE FOR_HIRE CODE since they get Unlimited Vehicles and Self Regulations in All Their Intentions Wile Keeping The Limos Controlled and Over Regulated W/ Total Vehicles Today at 616of those about 250 of Them are Broward and Palm Beach Co.and about 50 Of Those are Illegal Permits Rented some Own By Taxi Groups.
Grassroots campaigns only work if they actually have a grassroots support.
Uber’s grassroots twist was their database obviously contains my home address… Their algorithm calculated my commissioner, knew which way my commissioner was leaning and made a linkable request:
My email read: …. “One ordinance welcomes Uber to Miami Dade and would create a permanent regulatory home for ridesharing….but the other proposal sponsored by chairman Monestime is one of the most hostile ridesharing laws in the country and would make it impossible for Uber to continue operating…
Your commissioner is a supporter of Uber. Tap the button below to say thanks and urge the commissioner to vote yes”
What’s groundbreaking about asking your customer base to provide testimonials? They just had a link, the cyber version of the self-addressed stamped envelope. There was nothing about targeting Monestine or any other commissioners ( but they did thoughtfully mention his name and title)
Ridesharing is a Better mouse trap even their lobbying campaign proves it. I think the irony here is how the taxis originally demanded regulation to protect their monopoly then fought regulation design to protect the public, now they want to hide behind those very public protection laws..and who really things Monestime is doing anything but running and old school power play to protect the taxi racket?
Furthermore, I was told that each email that went to Bovo was copied to Monestime.
That was a powerful campaign, but it was also ugly. And what I fear is that it will be the norm now to rule through intimidation.
Love, Ladra
¿Que Amore, you’ve never tried Uber? How can you critique that what you’ve never had?