Uber and Lyft leaving Minneapolis: Gov. Walz wants compromise
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minneapolis City Council's vote to set a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers has brought Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Republicans to rare agreement, albeit with differing approaches.
A GOP bill introduced Monday aims to prohibit cities from enforcing any ordinances that regulate ride-hailing companies.
"I'm a local control guy. But when it comes to something that has these larger ramifications, this is kind of local control out of control. Because at the end of the day, this is going to impact more than just Minneapolis. This is going to impact the entire seven-county metro area and the state writ large," said Rep. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes.
Last week, Uber said it would pull out of the entire Twin Cities metro due to the Minneapolis ordinance by May 1. Lyft said it would stop service in Minneapolis on that same date.
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Gov. Walz disagrees with the GOP approach but also disapproves of the Minneapolis City Council's ordinance. The governor vetoed a ride-hailing minimum wage bill last year and called for an extensive study into how much drivers actually earn, including expenses and idle time. Minneapolis then set the minimum wage for drivers significantly above what the study determined was needed for a minimum wage – before tips.
Walz stated that ride-hailing companies are akin to utilities that communities rely on and expressed a desire to broker a compromise.
"I'll bring all the folks together to get this fixed, but I, just candidly, I'm not super hopeful because of the decision that was made in Minneapolis," Gov. Walz remarked.
Despite the possibility of Uber and Lyft withdrawing from Minneapolis, a few smaller ride-hailing companies have indicated they would provide services. However, Gov. Walz cautioned against relying on this as a solution.
Advocates for blind, people with disabilities oppose Uber's departure
If Uber and Lyft were to exit Minneapolis, and potentially the entire state, a group of individuals is voicing concern about their mobility options. People with disabilities, for whom ride-hailing services are often the most viable means of transportation from one point to another, are particularly worried.
Briley O’Connor, who has limited vision, expressed deep concern about how such a departure could drastically affect her daily life. While she has access to a bus stop nearby, public transit does not always meet her needs efficiently. Metro Mobility, cited by some city council members as a fallback option, requires advance booking and often involves long wait times, which she finds inadequate compared to the on-demand nature of ride-hailing services.
O'Connor, serving as the Vice President of the Twin Cities metro chapter of the National Federation of the Blind - Minnesota, highlighted the organization's action in response to the potential issue. The Federation has passed a resolution urging the Minneapolis City Council, Uber and Lyft, and other stakeholders to find a way to retain these essential services.
"We are hoping to get everybody back to the table and, as an impacted community, we’re asking to be part of that conversation," O’Connor stated.