Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannSeptember 16, 2016

Who doesn’t love a nice park, even one as small as a parking space? To honor National PARK(ing) Day, ridesharing service Uber will transform one parking spot in downtown Tampa into a mini park for the public to enjoy. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, Uber will set up a mini “park” […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 15, 2016

#NeverTrump conservatives in Florida have one less option to choose for president in November now. Evan McMullin, a 40-year-old former CIA official from Utah, has been proposed as a conservative alternative to Trump. He was the nominee of the Independent Party in Florida, but has been removed from the ballot by the Florida Division of […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2016

Like the many Tampa Bay area GOP state lawmakers she wants to join in Tallahassee this November, Jackie Toledo said Wednesday she is disgusted by the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission’s approval of new regulations that could ultimately lead ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to leave the region. “The rules passed by the PTC are clear examples […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2016

The Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission Wednesday voted 5-2 on proposed new rules that still include requiring Level II background checks for Uber and Lyft drivers — a mandate representatives from those companies have said would compel them to leave the market. Though theoretically the new rules would allow new ridesharing companies to enter the market, the proprietor […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2016

Outgoing Florida Speaker of the House Steve Crisafulli penned an opinion piece yesterday slamming Hillary Clinton‘s now-infamous “basket of deplorables” phrase to describe half of Donald Trump‘s supporters. “By calling so many of our nation’s citizens ‘deplorable’ haters and racists and the other half too stupid to make their own decisions about who should be our next president, […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 13, 2016

In a significant “get” for the state’s largest government affairs firm, Southern Strategy Group (SSG) will rep global ride-hailing service Uber for its local-level needs. The deal comes as ridesharing services heat up the news again. Most recently, in Tampa Bay, House Republican Leader Dana Young demanded in a letter that local regulators scuttle proposed rules that […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 13, 2016

Writing that “Hillsborough County is better than this,” Dana Young is the latest Tampa Bay area lawmaker calling for the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission to reject proposed new rules that ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft say would force them out of the local market. In a letter Tuesday to PTC Chair Victor Crist, Young says the current […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 12, 2016

Two days before the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission looks to approve new regulations that representatives from ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft say could compel them to leave town, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and others in Hillsborough County’s business community had a simple message for them on Monday: Don’t do it. Specifically, they warned the agency not […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 9, 2016

Jacksonville’s attempt to enact ridesharing legislation, thus far, has met with mixed success. A Vehicles for Hire subcommittee in the city council ended earlier this year, with little in the way of actual resolution. For every decision the subcommittee made — such as changing the inspection time frame for cabs from once every 120 days to […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 8, 2016

Beyond convenience and affordability, ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber have become an essential, safe alternative to drunken driving. One person who should understand this best is David Pogorilich; Uber could have prevented his DUI nearly two decades ago. An Uber ride — at only a few dollars — is certainly preferable to a DUI, […]

Tag: Uber
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Uber marks National PARK(ing) Day with mini ‘park’ in downtown Tampa

Mitch Perry Report for 9.15.16 — One less #NeverTrump option for president in Florida

HD 60 GOP candidate Jackie Toledo slams PTC’s ridesharing regulations

Hillsborough PTC approves new rules — Future uncertain for Uber and Lyft

Mitch Perry Report for 9.14.16 — Steve Crisafulli goes there

Southern Strategy Group snags Uber’s local lobbying contract

Dana Young urges Hillsborough PTC to reject new rules for Uber, Lyft

Bob Buckhorn, others call Hillsborough PTC to reject rules that Uber, Lyft say could drive them out

Jacksonville gears up for another attempt at ridesharing legislation

If there is one member of the PTC who should support Uber, it’s David Pogorilich