The controversial Uber amendment in Dallas has ratcheted up a notch: There is now a petition on change.org. urging the City Council to vote no on the amendment and allow the technology-based car service company to continue to operate.
The amendment proposes a change to city code for limousine services – changes that would effectively end Uber's business model in Dallas.
The petition, which was created on August 27, has already garnered more than 4,900 signatures. It reads in part:
On behalf of all Dallasites, we urge you to vote NO on the anti-Uber proposal! We can’t go back to the way it used to be - trying to get around the city with unreliable taxi service. Stand for better transportation options, consumer choice and driver jobs for the city of Dallas. Dallas wants, needs and demands Uber. #DallasNeedsUber!
Mayor Mike Rawlings has vowed to "get to the bottom" of how a sweeping amendment ended up on the City Council's consent agenda, where the topics are usually noncontroversial done deals. Rawlings said he would ask the council to send the item back to transportation committee for review, but the deadline to do that ahead of Wednesday's meeting has already passed.
Council members Philip Kingston, Scott Griggs, Jennifer Staubach Gates, Sheffie Kadane and Sandy Greyson all requested the item be pulled from the consent agenda and given individual attention. This request was granted, setting up a possible vote on Wednesday.
However, it seems more likely that Rawlings will initiate a move to have the item pushed back to committee. As of 11:30 am today, 14 people had already signed up to speak on the Uber amendment at Wednesday's council meeting. These speakers will have a chance to voice their opinions no matter if the council sends it back to committee or agrees to vote on it at once.
Uber is giving cab companies headaches in Dallas.
Rodeo Goat's Big Tex Burger. Photo courtesy of Rodeo Goat 