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The New Orleans City Council's Transportation and Airport Committee voted today to move forward legislation that would allow Uber and other hail-a-cab apps like it to the full council ? but stopped short of making a recommendation.*

The three-hour long meeting was rife with tension between the taxi and limo lobbies and supporters of Uber, the San Francisco-based company that connects drivers to passengers through its smartphone platform.*

Uber advocates sported t-shirts with the words "Uber: I'm on board" typed inside a hollow outline of the state of Louisiana, while taxi lobbyists dressed in bright green T-shirts that read "Cab Drivers for Justice." The real heat, however, came from councilmembers concerned about the city's ability to regulate Uber Black, the company's proposed service and whatever Uber hopes to bring to New Orleans afterward ? namely UberX, the company's ridesharing service that's a major competitor for traditional taxis in other cities.
The proposed legislation, drafted in part by Ryan Berni and Eric Granderson, both of Mayor Mitch Landrieu's office, would eliminate a three-hour minimum on for-hire vehicles and would adjust the pricing so that such vehicles can charge by the mile and minute.? [ Read more ]

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