ST. LOUIS - The Metropolitan Taxi Commission once again put the brakes on a decision to allow Uber to pull its ride sharing service into St. Louis Wednesday afternoon.
Commissioners said they came to vote but the mayor and the county executive asked them to not to. The mayor and county executive want to hammer out a deal between people who are for and against Uber.
The Taxi Commission meeting got heated Wednesday afternoon. Taxi drivers like Paul David are among the factions who said Uber could cut into their market. Small businessmen like Randy Vines said his customers would come more often to his Cherokee Street shop if they could take Uber.
The mayor and county executive both want Uber to start ride sharing in St Louis. Mayor Slay's chief of staff said Uber's plans to hire up to 2,000 people
"It is an opportunity to hire people who have had some trouble in the past and are wanting to re-enter society," said Ponder.
Taxi drivers and owners believe Uber drivers should have to get background checks, insurance and drug testing, just like they do.
"They are hard working people who want to feed their families, put their children through school. We undergo training through the Visitors' Convention Bureau," said taxi owner Fred Sweets.
"There's no guarantee when you get into a cab in St. Louis," said Uber advocate Ed Domain. "It's insured, they only check twice a year."
The mayor wants to get all the players at the table in the next day or two to hammer out a deal everybody can love with. The Taxi Commission could vote on it at its next meeting.
