The renewed City Council fight over whether to require ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft to use only drivers with a chauffeur’s license is sparking a campaign cash windfall for Chicago aldermen and some of their pet causes.<\/p>\n
Most obvious is the giving by the Illinois Transportation Trade Association PAC, which represents traditional taxi companies, but both sides are opening their wallets.<\/p>\n
Since a measure by Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, <\/a><\/strong>and other members of the City Council’s progressive caucus to require such a license, was introduced last month, ITTA has donated at least $23,000 to a total of 18 aldermen<\/strong>. Most got $1,000 each, but Beale received $5,000.<\/p>\n Beale was also a big beneficiary of money from ITTA in recent years, receiving $15,000 in 2014 and 2015, with a three-year total of at least $20,000, according to state financial disclosure reports.<\/p>\n In a phone interview late last week, Beale said he’s always been an ally of cab drivers and there is “no connection” between the donations and his sponsorship. “I haven’t cashed the ($5,000) check,” Beale added, saying he won’t decide whether to do so until later.<\/p>\n Beyond that, the progressive caucus, which has allied itself politically with a union representing cab drivers, has itself been a big winner .<\/p>\n The group got $10,000 in October and another $1,000 right after Beale submitted his plan. It also received $10,000 late last year from the union.<\/p>\n “A lot of outfits that come before the City Council make contributions,” said Ald. Ricardo Munoz, 22nd, who is listed in state records as caucus chairman. “We listen to the arguments and try to be as fair as possible.”<\/p>\n I can find no sign that Uber and Lyft, the other major company in the field, have made similar contributions recently, though Lyft did donate $5,000 to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s re-election<\/strong>fund in March 2015.<\/p>\n But in response to a question, Uber spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said the company did donate “several thousand dollars” to the City Council Latino caucus’ scholarship gala in November<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “We do not make political contributions to anyone as a matter of policy,” and the caucus event was for charity, Anderson said.<\/p>\n Other sources said they believe the donation was $10,000.<\/p>\n Also, lobbyists working for Uber and Lyft have been active donors to aldermen.<\/p>\n For instance, Nicolay & Dart, which Anderson said was officially retained by Uber last week, donated $1,000 each to progressive caucus members Scott Waguespack, 32nd, and Roderick Sawyer, 6th, in April.<\/p>\n The lobbying firm has donated several thousands more to other aldermen and their political organizations since last fall, when it was representing Lyft. But Nicolay & Dart has numerous clients, not just ride-hailing companies.<\/p>\n Uber’s main lobbyist is Mike Kasper, Anderson said. He’s the election lawyer who helped Rahm Emanuel fight off a residency challenge<\/strong> when he first ran for mayor in 2011.<\/p>\n The Beale bill is the second attempt by aldermen to toughen rules on the ridesharing companies. Last year, the council decided against requiring Uber and its competitors to mandate chauffeur’s licenses for drivers. The new Beale proposal would also require more intensive background checks for drivers.<\/p>\n The companies said the rules are onerous, unnecessary and potentially devastating to their business. Taxi companies said the rules would even the playing field and protect riders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The renewed City Council fight over whether to require ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft to use only drivers with a chauffeur’s license is sparking a campaign cash windfall for Chicago aldermen and some of their pet causes. Most obvious is the giving by the Illinois Transportation Trade Association PAC, which represents traditional taxi companies, … Continue reading Aldermen winning in taxi war with ride-booking companies<\/span>