Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Kyle Hoskins
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:44 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Correction to "Making Austin a Safer City.": 1, not 4 cases
--------------------------------------------Original Email:
1
---------------------------------------------
or 512-739-7623
District 8
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jason Arnold
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 8:59 AM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Concerned about KXAN story re: ride sharing services
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Troxclair, Ellen
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 10:50 AM
Searle, Michael
FW: Safety & Background Checks
Ellen Troxclair
DearHonorableElectedOfficialsoftheCityofAustinandStaff,
Imthankfultobeamemberofthecommunityyoulead.IfortuitouslyattendedtheCityCouncilmeetingonThursday
October15,2015wherethecouncillistenedtotestimonyandapprovedaresolutionaddressingpublicsafetymeasures
relatedtobackgroundcheckrequirementsforTransportationNetworkCompanies(TNCs).(Item51October15,2015)
IalsoattendedtheOctober7,2015RegularMeetingoftheMobilityCommitteewhichallowedpublictestimonyin
conjunctionwithastaffbriefinganddiscussionongroundtransportationproviders,includingTNCs.
Iappreciatethetimeandconsiderationthathasbeengiventotheseissuesbyallmembersofthisbody.TheMobility
CommitteehasbeenthoroughintheirreviewandImgladthatthiscouncilistakingintoconsiderationallofthecurrent
andhistoricalinformationpertainingtotheseissuesinAustin.
Somethingthatstandsouttome,becauseitsbeenreferencedtwice,thatIhavenothadanopportunitytorespondtois
thestatementthatTNCshaveothersafetyfeaturesthatmakethembetterthancabs.
ItisimportantthatIclarifythatYellowCabdoesntjustimplementabackgroundcheckastheonlysafetyfeature
available.IdlikeyoutobeawarethatYellowCabhasmoresafetyfeaturesbuiltintooursystemforthesafetyofboth
theridingpassengerandthedriver.
AllYellowCabshavecamerasinthemforthesafetyoftheriderandthedriver
AllYellowCabshavediscretepanicbuttonsallowingdriverstomakeaquietalertforsupport
AllYellowCabshaveGPSequipmentattachedtothevehicleinvariouslocationsthatcannotbeturnedoffbythedriver,
asopposedtoGPSthatisunattachedtothemovingcar.Triphistorycanalsobereviewed
AllYellowCabsallowforpaymentthroughtheHailACabappifthepassengerchooses(orforpeoplewithoutaccessto
smartphonesand/orcreditcards,cabdriversalsotakecash)
AllYellowCabdriverscanreceivecashlesspaymentsdirectlytotheiraccount,foranynoncashpaymentstheyreceivein
thecab,iftheychoose
RecentlyinAustintherewasatremendouslyunfortunateoccurrenceinwhichayoungladyrequestedanUbercarand
thoughtshewasenteringherUber vehicle:The woman told the officer that she was waiting for an Uber driver to take
her to where she was staying during the festival when Al Surky arrived. She said she believed the man was her
requested Uber driver. During the ride, the woman said Al Surky stopped the vehicle, opened the door where she
was sitting and sexually assaulted her.
AllYellowCabsarepaintedandmarkedforidentification,whichisimportantwhendealingwithpassengersthatmay
havebeendrinkingandstruggletoviewpicturesinanapp.
AllYellowCabdriversarefingerprintbackgroundchecked
AllYellowCabdriversarerequiredtopostapictureofthedriverinthecab.(phonebatteries,datalimitations,storage
limitations,etc.dontalwaysallowforthedriverpicturetobeviewed)
YellowCabhasa24/7callcenter/supportcentertorespondtoemergencies,complaints,compliments,lostitem
inquiries,etc.
TheHailACabappallowspassengerstoratethedriverandyoucancallthecustomerservicedepartmentorgoonline
tofilecompliments/complaints
PoliceChiefAcevedoisquotedasstatingWevehad18caseswhereUberdriversareinvolvedininappropriateactions.
TheexecutivedirectoratSafePlacetestifiedlastweekthattheyrecurrentlytendingto4casesofwomenbeing
mistreatedbyTNCdriversinthelast3months.
Thefactsaboutthedifferencebetweenafingerprintbackgroundcheckandthechecksdoneby3rdpartyprivate
companiesonbehalfoftheTNCSare:
1. Fingerprintsasanidentifierisasignificantlygreaterprocessthananamebasedcheckforensuringthepersonbeing
checkedismatchedwiththerecordspresented.
2. TexasDPSDeputyAssistantDirectorMikeLeskotestifiedbeforeyouthatprivatecompaniesdonothaveaccesstoall
FederalandStatecriminalrecords,therebyattimesreviewingrecordswithincompleteinformation.
BothTNCsoperatinginAustinconductfingerprintbackgroundchecksinNewYorkCityandtherearenomajor
differencesintheiroperationsthereorinAustinorSanFrancisco.WouldntitseemthatifTNCsconsistentlyconduct
backgroundchecksasthoroughlyastheyclaim,sendingpeopleouttovariouscourthouses,thattheirbackgroundcheck
processwouldtakejustaslongasorlongerthanthefingerprintprocess?
IappreciateallthehardworkdonebyCouncilandstaffandImnotwritingtoclaimthatthereisaperfectsystem.Iam
gratefulthatthemembersoftheMobilityCommitteearerecommendingaprocessthatraisesthebarasitpertainsto
backgroundchecksandpublicsafety.Therecommendationwouldrequireallofustoputforthourbesteffortwhilealso
ensuringthatthepeopletaskedwiththeresponsibilityofprotectingthepublicimplementaprocessthatpresentsthe
mostcompleteinformationforreview.Suchaprocesswouldbeconsistentforanyandalltransportationservice
providersandcleartoallpotentialdrivers.
Thechallengewithconductingbackgroundchecksisnttocatchthosewhoplaybytherules;thechallengeistoputforth
yourbestefforttocatchperpetratorswithademonstratedhistoryofmisconduct,peoplewhoconsistentlyworkto
cheatthesystem.
Iwanttothankyouallformovingthatprocessforward.Pleaseletmeknowifyouhavequestions.
BeSafe,
2
EdwardK.Kargbo
President
(O)5124347781:
Email:
10630JosephClaytonDr.Austin,TX78753
www.yellowcabaustin.com
DownloadtheHailACabapponyourmobilephoneby:
ClickingAppleiOSIconbelowGooglePlayIconbelow
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Cari Wieland
Thursday, November 12, 2015 5:13 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Keep ride share options in Austin
I strongly and respectfully ask that the city keep and not make restrictions on ride share companies like Uber
and Lyft in Austin. The safety and convenience provided by these services is invaluable. Thank you.
Street address:
Council District: 7
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Pitts, Don
Monday, September 28, 2015 10:10 AM
Searle, Michael
FW: Uber Breathelyzer Kiosk Questions With Answers
Screen Shot 2015-08-04 at 12.19.21 AM.png
thanksforputtingthisonmyradar.Theycouldbeourfriendonourdrunkdrivingproblem.
Thanks!
I look forward to talking to you at 3:30! Also, I just realized that I don't have a contact number for you. Please let me know what is the best
number to reach you at.
Thanks,
Shelley
-R
m
m
Shelley Adams
Marketing Manager | Uber Austin
E
| P 404.312.3540 | W uber.com
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Kenneth Flippin
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 6:26 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Kitchen proposal on TNC
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
David King
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 11:43 PM
Adler, Steve; Tovo, Kathie; Houston, Ora; Garza, Delia; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio;
Kitchen, Ann; Zimmerman, Don; Pool, Leslie; Troxclair, Ellen; Gallo, Sheri
Sarria, Vanessa; Hethcox, Leslie; Shack, Barbara; Wick, Jim; Cardenas, Nancy; Cortez,
John Michael; Majid, Sly; Rodriguez, Frank; Burton, Brandi; Varghese, Lesley; Prince,
Kazique; Hutchins, Christopher J.; Wilson Beverly; Rodriguez, Genoveva; Williamson,
Laura; Landeros, Alexandra; Nicely, Katherine; Chincanchan, David; Solorzano, Nicholas;
Fisher, Ashley; Dave, Neesha; Lawler, John; Alexander, Shelby; Latham-Jones, Braden;
Tiemann, Donna; Craig, Ken; Anguiano, Dora; Lopez, Jason; Petronis, Joe; Watson,
Gregory; Devine, Nubia; Smith, Amy; Halloran, Katie; Boggs, Annie; Gaudini, Michael;
septhayerj; Searle, Michael; Martinez, Viveca; Brucato, Michelle; Levinski, Bobby;
Harden, Joi; Halley, Shannon; Smith, Taylor; Cannon, Tina; Chase, Suzie; Smith, Melanie
Item 50 - Transportation Network Companies - City Council Meeting, October 15, 2015
Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, and Council Members Ora Houston, Delia Garza, Sabino Renteria, Gregorio
Casar, Ann Kitchen, Don Zimmerman, Leslie Pool, Ellen Troxclair, and Sheri Gallo,
Please support item 50 directing the City Manager to initiate a code amendment for proposed fees for Transportation Network
Companies (TNCs). The proposed fees will help ensure that new TNCs like Uber and Lyft pay their fair share of the Citys
costs to license and regulate TNCs. The proposed fees are fair and equitable for large, medium and small TNCs.
The proposed fees will help bring Austins TNC ordinance in line with other cities like Houston, New York, and Chicago that
have strengthened their ordinances to protect consumers and respond to serious crimes.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, there are now 18 tech-based transportation service providers in Austin. Given
that more of these companies are coming, its time to address safety and mobility issues facing our community.
Uber and Lyft should provide the same basic consumer protections (insurance, background checks, fingerprints, etc.) that other
TNC's in Austin provide and that they themselves provide in other cities where they operate; otherwise, they should not be
permitted to operate in Austin.
Their responses to questions from members of the Mobility Committee at the public hearing on October 7, 2015, demonstrate
that they are willing to mislead and threaten Council Members to avoid fees and basic safety regulations that apply to other
TNCs in Austin.
Respectfully,
David King
Zilker Neighborhood Resident
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Erin Freeman
Saturday, October 10, 2015 7:20 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Lyft and Uber regulations
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
David King
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 11:48 PM
Adler, Steve; Tovo, Kathie; Houston, Ora; Garza, Delia; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio;
Kitchen, Ann; Zimmerman, Don; Pool, Leslie; Troxclair, Ellen; Gallo, Sheri
Sarria, Vanessa; Hethcox, Leslie; Shack, Barbara; Wick, Jim; Cardenas, Nancy; Cortez,
John Michael; Majid, Sly; Rodriguez, Frank; Burton, Brandi; Varghese, Lesley; Prince,
Kazique; Hutchins, Christopher J.; Wilson Beverly; Rodriguez, Genoveva; Williamson,
Laura; Landeros, Alexandra; Nicely, Katherine; Chincanchan, David; Solorzano, Nicholas;
Fisher, Ashley; Dave, Neesha; Lawler, John; Alexander, Shelby; Latham-Jones, Braden;
Tiemann, Donna; Craig, Ken; Anguiano, Dora; Lopez, Jason; Petronis, Joe; Watson,
Gregory; Devine, Nubia; Smith, Amy; Halloran, Katie; Boggs, Annie; Gaudini, Michael;
septhayerj; Searle, Michael; Martinez, Viveca; Brucato, Michelle; Levinski, Bobby;
Harden, Joi; Halley, Shannon; Smith, Taylor; Cannon, Tina; Chase, Suzie; Smith, Melanie
Item 51 - Transportation Network Companies - City Council Meeting, October 15, 2015
Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, and Council Members Ora Houston, Delia Garza, Sabino Renteria, Gregorio
Casar, Ann Kitchen, Don Zimmerman, Leslie Pool, Ellen Troxclair, and Sheri Gallo,
Please support item 51 directing the City Manager to initiate a code amendment for proposed background checks for
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). The proposed amendment will help ensure that new TNCs like Uber and Lyft
follow the same background check requirements that apply to other TNCs.
The proposed amendment will help bring Austins TNC ordinance in line with other cities like Houston, New York, and
Chicago that have strengthened their ordinances to protect consumers and respond to serious crimes.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, there are now 18 tech-based transportation service providers in Austin. Given
that more of these companies are coming, its time to address safety and mobility issues facing our community.
Uber and Lyft should provide the same basic consumer protections (insurance, background checks, fingerprints, etc.) that other
TNC's in Austin provide and that they themselves provide in other cities where they operate; otherwise, they should not be
permitted to operate in Austin.
Their responses to questions from members of the Mobility Committee at the public hearing on October 7, 2015, demonstrate
that they are willing to mislead and threaten Council Members to avoid fees and basic safety regulations that apply to other
TNCs in Austin.
Respectfully,
David King
Zilker Neighborhood Resident
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jed Buie
Wednesday, October 28, 2015 12:16 PM
Searle, Michael
Lyft / TNCs
Hey,man.Ireallyappreciateyourtimeyesterday.Itwasincrediblyhelpful.
Onanothernote,AprilwithLyftwillbeintownonMonday,Nov.9thinadvanceoftheMobilityCommitteemeetingonNov.
16.IwantedtoseeifwecouldgetonyourcalendarortheCouncilMembersforafewminutesthatday.Wedliketo
discussweareintheprocessandoffersomeadditionalinformation.Doyouhaveanytimeonthe9th?
IdalsoliketoofferupabriefingwitharepresentativefromSterling,ifyouareinterested.Thatsthecompanythathandles
ourbackgroundchecks.
Thanksasalways,
Jed
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Thomas Stiller
Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:40 AM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
On Uber regs
Fees:
As you know, we are deeply concerned about the proposed $450/vehicle fee. About 78% of our drivers drive less than 15 hours
a week, so this is a completely different driver pool than taxis. That is why we encourage cities/counties to adopt a flat fee, as
opposed to a per vehicle fee. I've included a chart with the flat fees required by other states/cities. We are exploring the gross
revenue proposal. We believe that 1% of gross revenue is entirely too high, but we are open to exploring other options.
Additionalinformation:
TaxiImpactWehavenotseenATDdata.OurunderstandingisthattherehasbeennoimpactondemandfortaxissinceLyft
beginit'spilotinNov.2014.Infact,weknowthatinColoradoTNCoperationscoincidedwithamajorincreaseindemandfor
taxis.
Colorado:AccordingtothePUCsnumbers,taxiridesbothlocalmeteredridesandfixedfeeairporttripsareup27
percentandincreasedanaverageof299,103tripsannuallysinceUberandLyftcametoDenver.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters bits/2015/09/ubernearlycatchingtaxisincoloradoridership.html
DrunkDrivingImpactRegardingourimpactofTNCsondrunkdriving,hereisanarticlestatingthatTNCoperationscoincided
withareductionindrunkdriving:
"StatisticsfromAPDshowfrom2011to2013,thenumberofDWIarrestsincreasedeachyear,thendropped16
percentin2014.DWIrelatedcrashesfellevenmorecitywide,decreasingby23percentlastyear.
"It'saprettystrongindicatorthatimpaireddrivingingeneralisdecreasingintheAustinarea,andwehopetokeep
itthatway,"Walkersaid.
2014isalsotheyearridesharingstartedinAustin,withserviceslikeUberandLyftenteringthemarket.Walkersaid
hedoesn'tknowhowmuchofanimpactithadondrunkdrivinginAustin,butthemoreoptionspeoplehave,the
better."
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/02/apd-dwi-arrests-crashes-decreasing/24277979/
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
David King
Friday, October 09, 2015 6:57 PM
Troxclair, Ellen
septhayerj; Searle, Michael; Martinez, Viveca; Brucato, Michelle
New Worry for Home Buyers: A Party House Next Door
This home in Austin, Tex., has been the subject of 15 complaints related to groups who have rented it for short
stays. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
Your Money
By RON LIEBER
AUSTIN, Tex. The houses are often among the nicest on the block, or at least the biggest. They may be
new construction where a smaller structure once stood, or an extensively renovated home with cheery paint in
shades of yellow or blue.
But then the telltale signs appear, including an electronic touch pad on the door that makes it easy for people to
get in without a key. The ads on HomeAway or Airbnb eventually confirm it: A party house has come to the
neighborhood.
Some neighbors have warmed in recent years to travelers dragging suitcases through their residential
neighborhoods, and they are happy that the visitors spread their money around. But when profit-seeking
entrepreneurs furnish homes they do not live in to make them attractive to big groups and then rent out those
houses as much as possible, parties and noise are nearly inevitable.
And so it goes here in Austin, where a group of enraged and occasionally sleepless residents have taken their
complaints to the city. Austin created rules in 2012 that were supposed to keep short-term rentals under control,
but the neighbors argue that many of the rules are unenforceable.
Photo
Each of the three bedrooms in the home includes at least one bunkbed and could sleep
several adults. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
This week, I rented one of the most notorious party houses in Austin and invited some of the neighbors over for
a chat to ask a few questions. Where do the rights of property owners to rent out their homes end, and where
do those of quiet-loving neighbors begin? Do all home shoppers now need to be on the lookout for nearby
problem properties? And if so, what might happen to home values when revelers can bunk up next door on any
given night?
These are not new questions. In resort areas in particular, people have been renting out investment properties for
2
ages. Whats new is how easy it has become for people to make money by listing rooms or homes and
for visitors to save money by staying there. This is particularly true in good-time destinations like Austin,
Nashville, New Orleans and other bigger cities.
When Austin tried to bring some order to the proceedings three years ago, it limited the number of unrelated
people who could stay in one place at one time to six. (It also capped the number of certain listings in
many neighborhoods, albeit with a loophole that has allowed many unregistered properties to hit the market.)
Nevertheless, listings began appearing all over the city advertising beds for 10 or 15 people, or more. Austin has
become a popular bachelor partydestination, and the website Thrillist described one Airbnb listing as the
perfect place to bed down for a bonkers bachelor party, as its a short bike ride from downtown, just the right
blend of weird & huge, and not at all unaccustomed to rowdy entertainment.
Emmy Jodoin lives next door to that house with her family. It is loud, and there is live music and karaoke stuff,
and its all done outside because of the pool, she said. Theyre out in front at 4 in the afternoon waiting
for their Uber to come, drunk on the front lawn.
Homeowners had other complaints about guests, including trash bins overflowing with beer cans, public
urination, catcalling, foul language, racist remarks, companies throwing events and the appearance of
a rainbow-colored painted pony. Sometimes, when they are outside, theyre playing beer pong just wearing
their underwear, said Hazel Oldt, age 11, who can see them next door from the third-floor rooftop garden of
her house.
Many of the complaints result when there are well over six people staying at these houses. So how do owners
get away with renting to more people than city rules allow? Determining how many are occupying versus
just visiting is almost impossible, Carl Smart, who is the director of Austins code department, said, chuckling
as he did so.
Photo
The home, which has strict rules against parties, includes a game foyer on the second-floor landing. CreditIlana
Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
What was so funny? Had some of the guests been coached to say that they were related? I think so, he said.
There is no way for us to disprove or to prove it. We could ask them to, but they dont have to, so we have to
3
take their word for it. KVUE, a local television station, tagged along with code enforcement officers who heard
from guests at one house that there were triplets inside and that someone else was related to a fifth guest
by marriage.
The neighbors would prefer that the city simply cap the number of guests at six people or, better yet, stop
allowing what they describe as rogue hotels to operate in residential neighborhoods. (They have no problem
with people renting out their entire homes occasionally or renting rooms more frequently, while the owners
themselves are in residence.)
At HomeAway, which is based in Austin and also owns Vrbo.com, executives did not want a ban and said that
renting out ones home on a short-term basis was a fundamental right. Nor do they think that it is a commercial
activity. Its a residential use of the property, said Matt Curtis, who runs the governmental relations efforts for
the company. Its no more a business than someone renting it out long-term would be a business.
Even if no one, in this instance, is doing any actual residing? HomeAways contention is that the visitors
coming for the weekend are the residents in this context.
Mr. Curtis questioned how widespread the problem was. Airbnb provided some statistics about its customers,
noting that from Oct. 1, 2014, to Oct. 1 this year, 87 percent of trips to Austin involved four or fewer people and
97 percent involved eight or fewer. The average age of Airbnb guests in Austin is 36. Airbnb offers a hotline for
neighbors having problems with hosts anywhere it operates and is building tools that will try to recognize
parties before they happen, say when someone books a large house and that listing is immediately viewed by
many other site visitors.
Since October 2012, Austin has received 266 complaints about the type of registered properties where the
homeowner is generally not present. Twenty percent of the properties have at least one complaint, with
an average of 2.4 complaints among those. Seventeen percent of the complaints were about over-occupancy.
The house where I stayed has received 15 complaints, and the city has suspended its license once. The walls
have Dumb and Dumber and Anchorman movie posters, and the three bedrooms are full of bunk beds and
futons. Our neighbors understand that your group is here to have a good time, the listing says.
Photo
Austin residents gathered recently to discuss the impact of short-term rentals on their neighborhoods and
properties. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
But not too good a time. Each door to the outside has a framed copy of Austins noise ordinance nearby, and
Jason Martin, a limited partner with partial ownership in the property, sends an extensive list of house rules
to guests urging them not to disturb the neighbors. It is extremely professionally run, he said. Any word of a
bachelor party or fraternities is an immediate no-go.
In fact, house parties and organized social events are not allowed on the premises, a rule I thought I was not
breaking when I invited the neighbors over. Theres another rule noting that all persons entering the
premises are counted as chargeable guests. I should have reread the rules and reviewed my original
communications with Mr. Martin once I decided to hold the gathering in the days after I made the booking.
Those visitors were especially concerned about their property values. For many of them, their homes are their
largest asset. Jessie Neufeld, who bought her home right before the local rules changed in 2012 and now has a
2-year-old child, put it most bluntly. We did not buy our house to be living next to a hotel, she said. Would
you buy a home if you knew a hotel like this was operating next door, if you wanted to set your life up and
raise a family?
I put the question to two real estate professionals whose names I saw on for-sale signs for homes that were next
to or close to some of the party houses. Were the properties going to sell for less because of the
problem properties nearby, and did they have a duty to disclose these houses to any and all buyers?
Katie Brigmon of Dash Realty did not want to answer many questions about her listing, a house that is very
close to one problem property, and my call to her quickly went dead.
Jeff Grant from Saddle Realty said that he wasnt aware of the short-term rental several homes down from the
house hes trying to sell on Hidalgo Street. But my philosophy has always been disclose, disclose, disclose,
he said. I dont think it affects property value in the least.
It probably wont if the buyer simply wants to rent out the home every weekend. But every other home buyer
ought to be searching Airbnb, HomeAway and similar sites for listings that are close to a home that theyre
considering buying.
Ms. Neufeld said she resented the fact that people making a living from renting out homes for the weekend have
put her own homes value at risk. They are leveraging our neighborhood for their profit, telling people to come
stay in this beautiful place where you would like to pretend that you live, she said. And they are making
people miserable.
Searle, Michael
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
David King
Friday, October 09, 2015 6:57 PM
Troxclair, Ellen
septhayerj; Searle, Michael; Martinez, Viveca; Brucato, Michelle
New Worry for Home Buyers: A Party House Next Door
This home in Austin, Tex., has been the subject of 15 complaints related to groups who have rented it for short
stays. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
Your Money
By RON LIEBER
AUSTIN, Tex. The houses are often among the nicest on the block, or at least the biggest. They may be
new construction where a smaller structure once stood, or an extensively renovated home with cheery paint in
shades of yellow or blue.
But then the telltale signs appear, including an electronic touch pad on the door that makes it easy for people to
get in without a key. The ads on HomeAway or Airbnb eventually confirm it: A party house has come to the
neighborhood.
Some neighbors have warmed in recent years to travelers dragging suitcases through their residential
neighborhoods, and they are happy that the visitors spread their money around. But when profit-seeking
entrepreneurs furnish homes they do not live in to make them attractive to big groups and then rent out those
houses as much as possible, parties and noise are nearly inevitable.
And so it goes here in Austin, where a group of enraged and occasionally sleepless residents have taken their
complaints to the city. Austin created rules in 2012 that were supposed to keep short-term rentals under control,
but the neighbors argue that many of the rules are unenforceable.
Photo
Each of the three bedrooms in the home includes at least one bunkbed and could sleep
several adults. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
This week, I rented one of the most notorious party houses in Austin and invited some of the neighbors over for
a chat to ask a few questions. Where do the rights of property owners to rent out their homes end, and where
do those of quiet-loving neighbors begin? Do all home shoppers now need to be on the lookout for nearby
problem properties? And if so, what might happen to home values when revelers can bunk up next door on any
given night?
These are not new questions. In resort areas in particular, people have been renting out investment properties for
2
ages. Whats new is how easy it has become for people to make money by listing rooms or homes and
for visitors to save money by staying there. This is particularly true in good-time destinations like Austin,
Nashville, New Orleans and other bigger cities.
When Austin tried to bring some order to the proceedings three years ago, it limited the number of unrelated
people who could stay in one place at one time to six. (It also capped the number of certain listings in
many neighborhoods, albeit with a loophole that has allowed many unregistered properties to hit the market.)
Nevertheless, listings began appearing all over the city advertising beds for 10 or 15 people, or more. Austin has
become a popular bachelor partydestination, and the website Thrillist described one Airbnb listing as the
perfect place to bed down for a bonkers bachelor party, as its a short bike ride from downtown, just the right
blend of weird & huge, and not at all unaccustomed to rowdy entertainment.
Emmy Jodoin lives next door to that house with her family. It is loud, and there is live music and karaoke stuff,
and its all done outside because of the pool, she said. Theyre out in front at 4 in the afternoon waiting
for their Uber to come, drunk on the front lawn.
Homeowners had other complaints about guests, including trash bins overflowing with beer cans, public
urination, catcalling, foul language, racist remarks, companies throwing events and the appearance of
a rainbow-colored painted pony. Sometimes, when they are outside, theyre playing beer pong just wearing
their underwear, said Hazel Oldt, age 11, who can see them next door from the third-floor rooftop garden of
her house.
Many of the complaints result when there are well over six people staying at these houses. So how do owners
get away with renting to more people than city rules allow? Determining how many are occupying versus
just visiting is almost impossible, Carl Smart, who is the director of Austins code department, said, chuckling
as he did so.
Photo
The home, which has strict rules against parties, includes a game foyer on the second-floor landing. CreditIlana
Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
What was so funny? Had some of the guests been coached to say that they were related? I think so, he said.
There is no way for us to disprove or to prove it. We could ask them to, but they dont have to, so we have to
3
take their word for it. KVUE, a local television station, tagged along with code enforcement officers who heard
from guests at one house that there were triplets inside and that someone else was related to a fifth guest
by marriage.
The neighbors would prefer that the city simply cap the number of guests at six people or, better yet, stop
allowing what they describe as rogue hotels to operate in residential neighborhoods. (They have no problem
with people renting out their entire homes occasionally or renting rooms more frequently, while the owners
themselves are in residence.)
At HomeAway, which is based in Austin and also owns Vrbo.com, executives did not want a ban and said that
renting out ones home on a short-term basis was a fundamental right. Nor do they think that it is a commercial
activity. Its a residential use of the property, said Matt Curtis, who runs the governmental relations efforts for
the company. Its no more a business than someone renting it out long-term would be a business.
Even if no one, in this instance, is doing any actual residing? HomeAways contention is that the visitors
coming for the weekend are the residents in this context.
Mr. Curtis questioned how widespread the problem was. Airbnb provided some statistics about its customers,
noting that from Oct. 1, 2014, to Oct. 1 this year, 87 percent of trips to Austin involved four or fewer people and
97 percent involved eight or fewer. The average age of Airbnb guests in Austin is 36. Airbnb offers a hotline for
neighbors having problems with hosts anywhere it operates and is building tools that will try to recognize
parties before they happen, say when someone books a large house and that listing is immediately viewed by
many other site visitors.
Since October 2012, Austin has received 266 complaints about the type of registered properties where the
homeowner is generally not present. Twenty percent of the properties have at least one complaint, with
an average of 2.4 complaints among those. Seventeen percent of the complaints were about over-occupancy.
The house where I stayed has received 15 complaints, and the city has suspended its license once. The walls
have Dumb and Dumber and Anchorman movie posters, and the three bedrooms are full of bunk beds and
futons. Our neighbors understand that your group is here to have a good time, the listing says.
Photo
Austin residents gathered recently to discuss the impact of short-term rentals on their neighborhoods and
properties. CreditIlana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times
But not too good a time. Each door to the outside has a framed copy of Austins noise ordinance nearby, and
Jason Martin, a limited partner with partial ownership in the property, sends an extensive list of house rules
to guests urging them not to disturb the neighbors. It is extremely professionally run, he said. Any word of a
bachelor party or fraternities is an immediate no-go.
In fact, house parties and organized social events are not allowed on the premises, a rule I thought I was not
breaking when I invited the neighbors over. Theres another rule noting that all persons entering the
premises are counted as chargeable guests. I should have reread the rules and reviewed my original
communications with Mr. Martin once I decided to hold the gathering in the days after I made the booking.
Those visitors were especially concerned about their property values. For many of them, their homes are their
largest asset. Jessie Neufeld, who bought her home right before the local rules changed in 2012 and now has a
2-year-old child, put it most bluntly. We did not buy our house to be living next to a hotel, she said. Would
you buy a home if you knew a hotel like this was operating next door, if you wanted to set your life up and
raise a family?
I put the question to two real estate professionals whose names I saw on for-sale signs for homes that were next
to or close to some of the party houses. Were the properties going to sell for less because of the
problem properties nearby, and did they have a duty to disclose these houses to any and all buyers?
Katie Brigmon of Dash Realty did not want to answer many questions about her listing, a house that is very
close to one problem property, and my call to her quickly went dead.
Jeff Grant from Saddle Realty said that he wasnt aware of the short-term rental several homes down from the
house hes trying to sell on Hidalgo Street. But my philosophy has always been disclose, disclose, disclose,
he said. I dont think it affects property value in the least.
It probably wont if the buyer simply wants to rent out the home every weekend. But every other home buyer
ought to be searching Airbnb, HomeAway and similar sites for listings that are close to a home that theyre
considering buying.
Ms. Neufeld said she resented the fact that people making a living from renting out homes for the weekend have
put her own homes value at risk. They are leveraging our neighborhood for their profit, telling people to come
stay in this beautiful place where you would like to pretend that you live, she said. And they are making
people miserable.
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
sharon mcdonald
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 2:41 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Restrictions to Uber & Lyft and other ride sharing options
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Example 1: I April Mims might get printed while pretending to be my sister, Jenny Mims, who has a record and doesn't want to
get detected. I have Jenny's driver's license, and I look like her. I show it to the fingerprint agency as evidence that I am Jenny
Mims, while I, April Mims, get printed. My background check is completed under the guise of Jenny Mims and shows no
results. Now Jenny, the criminal, is approved to drive.
Example 2: I, April Mims am lawfully fingerprinted, and approved to drive. Once I'm approved I share my city permit with my
sister, Jenny Mims, the criminal, so that she can drive. (Note: This is less problematic with a TNC, because passengers can
cross check the identity of the driver via the app before entering a vehicle).
These scenarios are unlikely, but (I would argue) so is the possibility that someone falsifies their identity under a name-based
search just to become a TNC driver. We are more concerned that the FBI fingerprint records are incomplete and that it will be
impossible and costly to move tens of thousands of drivers through a city-run process.
Instead, we propose requiring all BGC providers to be approved by the city and enhancing the current BGC requirements for
name-based searches. This proposed language is attached (criminal check language begins at a(5)) and requires the BGC
process to include: 1) a county-by-county search of all records where applicant has previously lived, 2) a search of the federal
district court records 3) a DOJ sex offender records and 4) an office of foreign assets control records.
Contrast this enhanced language with the current criminal BGC language in the ordinance at Part B7(a). This language is pretty
brief:
(a) A criminal background check is required and must be national in scope and prevent any person who has been
convicted, within the past seven years, of driving under the influence of drugs or edcohol, or who has been convicted
at any time for fraud, sexual offenses, use of a motor vehicle to commit a felony, gun related violations,
resisting/evading arrest, reckless driving, a crime involving property damage, and/or theft, acts of violence, or acts of
terror from driving for a TNC.
Fees:
As you know, we are deeply concerned about the proposed $450/vehicle fee. About 78% of our drivers drive less than 15 hours
a week, so this is a completely different driver pool than taxis. That is why we encourage cities/counties to adopt a flat fee, as
opposed to a per vehicle fee. I've included a chart with the flat fees required by other states/cities. We are exploring the gross
revenue proposal. We believe that 1% of gross revenue is entirely too high, but we are open to exploring other options.
Additionalinformation:
TaxiImpactWehavenotseenATDdata.OurunderstandingisthattherehasbeennoimpactondemandfortaxissinceLyft
beginit'spilotinNov.2014.Infact,weknowthatinColoradoTNCoperationscoincidedwithamajorincreaseindemandfor
taxis.
Colorado:AccordingtothePUCsnumbers,taxiridesbothlocalmeteredridesandfixedfeeairporttripsareup27
percentandincreasedanaverageof299,103tripsannuallysinceUberandLyftcametoDenver.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters bits/2015/09/ubernearlycatchingtaxisincoloradoridership.html
DrunkDrivingImpactRegardingourimpactofTNCsondrunkdriving,hereisanarticlestatingthatTNCoperationscoincided
withareductionindrunkdriving:
"StatisticsfromAPDshowfrom2011to2013,thenumberofDWIarrestsincreasedeachyear,thendropped16
percentin2014.DWIrelatedcrashesfellevenmorecitywide,decreasingby23percentlastyear.
"It'saprettystrongindicatorthatimpaireddrivingingeneralisdecreasingintheAustinarea,andwehopetokeep
itthatway,"Walkersaid.
2014isalsotheyearridesharingstartedinAustin,withserviceslikeUberandLyftenteringthemarket.Walkersaid
hedoesn'tknowhowmuchofanimpactithadondrunkdrivinginAustin,butthemoreoptionspeoplehave,the
better."
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/02/apd-dwi-arrests-crashes-decreasing/24277979/
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Patty Reekers
Monday, November 09, 2015 9:37 AM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Ride services including Uber
Brucato, Michelle
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Brucato, Michelle
Tuesday, June 23, 2015 2:13 PM
RE: Please give only temporary Taxi franchise extension
Dear Beki,
Firstly, I want to apologize for the late response, we are playing catch-up with our inbox. We appreciate you reaching
out to our office, and will pass this along to our Policy Director. If we could ever be of assistance to you, please do not
hesitate to call our office at 512.978.2108.
Best,
Michelle Brucato
Executive Assistant
Councilmember Troxclair District 8
From: Beki Halpin [mailto
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:37 AM
To: Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; Garza, Delia; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Subject: Please give only temporary Taxi franchise extension
Easy PDF Creator is professional software to create PDF. If you wish to remove this line, buy it now.
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
cory jeter
Thursday, October 15, 2015 11:33 AM
District 8
Rideshare decision
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jim R Casparis
Sunday, October 18, 2015 5:15 PM
District 8
Thanks for supporting TNC's!
much more closely than any regular citizen and am given frequent drug screenings as well as not allowed to
break ANY laws for any reason. Upon completion of the deferred sentence, the charge will never become a
conviction but rather be dismissed and no longer appear on my record. I completed an intensive outpatient
treatment program as well as the States drug and alcohol awareness program ALL WHILE I WAS STILL
DRIVING A TAXI, and in fact continued to drive for 14 months after my deferred sentence was handed down
to me in January of 2013. So y ou can see why I was so devastated when after going through all that and having
a sobriety date of July 1 2012, and with documentation and character reference letters written on my behalf
from concerned citizens I personally know and EVEN one from the District Attorney's office on my behalf, my
career was suddenly and in my opinion without just cause ripped from me. Being on probation, I am required to
have suitable employment, and the city code should not include the word "adjudicated" in it's language for
disqualifying probated individuals, as there is no conviction.
I also am considered disabled by the federal government and receive a disability check of $654 every month
since 1994. Because of my disability I am unable to find other suitable employment that would require me to
punch a time clock because of my sometimes very low stamina and this is why being an independent contractor
driver was such a perfect career for me to pursue. It allows me to take breaks when needed to pace myself and
yet still allowed me to feel good about myself knowing I still have some self worth and I still have something to
contribute to society. Being the very best ground transportation provider this city had was my constant goal.
I gave the appeals process everything I had but finally when it was apparent that I was not going to succeed, I
began to slip into very severe depression and feelings of despair. I had never been a quitter, and still tried to
hold onto some hope that I would be able to drive again.
Then someone told me that Uber had just come to town and why didn't I apply with them? So I did and while I
was not very optimistic at first, after completing their online registration and criminal background checks, their
independent company contractor, following the federal FCRA guidelines, CORRECTLY did not report my
deferred adjudicated sentence to Uber as a conviction and I was accepted to drive with their company. Well you
can imagine my elation when I received word that I was going to be allowed to drive on their platform!
I used my good credit to go out and purchase a brand new 2015 Subaru Forester to drive for Uber with and I am
happy and proud to say that I have been driving for them since July of 2014. I am also proud of my 4.91 out of
5 star average rating among the riders I have provide safe, friendly, and knowledgeable ground transportation
for. I have completed at this writing approx 1,500 trips in the Austin market and have regained my sense of
pride and self worth without a single complaint or accident! I am so very grateful to have been given the
opportunity to do once again what I love as I take great pride in providing the best possible service possible for
my riders. I cannot imagine what my life would have become if Uber had not come to town. I truly believe that
my life has been spared by having the opportunity to be of service again.
This is the only job I have and to be threatened once again with losing it by the city's unnecessary intervening
into Ubers business practices makes me feel ill and is beginning to keep me up worrying at nights. I have
been to all the public hearings with the mobility commission and there is one point that Ms. Gallo needs to be
corrected on in her assumption that the fingerprint background checks will not adversely hurt minorities or
people who have been arrested just because the faces she sees in the audience of cab drivers are mostly minority
of color.
MS. GALLO, THE REASON THEIR ARE SO MANY MINORITY FACES IN THE CROWD IS THAT
WHEN THEY FIRST START, APPROX. 90 % OF THE NEW CAB DRIVERS IN AUSTIN HAVE BEEN IN
THIS COUNTRY FOR LESS THAN 6 YEARS AND THERFORE ONLY HAVE A 6 YEAR CRIMINAL
HISTORY THAT CAN BE CHECKED BY ANY TYPE OF BACKGROUND CHECK be it fingerprint or
otherwise. Their is absolutely NO WAY to check on their background before they came to this country. Also
just to be absolutely clear about this (and please don't take my word for it, check for yourself that is IF the cab
companies will give you that proprietary information), the cab drivers don't really want a to " level the playing
field" because as I just pointed out, that would be impossible to do since their background begins anew when
they move to the United States - and I am not implying that they are a bunch of criminals - not by a long shot..
just that their is really NO WAY to verify what their past was. No, the cab drivers and companies are pushing
for t his regulation so much because, unlike the majority of the city council. they know that by implementing
those tighter regulations their is a VERY HIGH LIKELYHOOD that rather than change their whole business
2
model, the TNC's will MOST LIKELY JUST MOVE OUT OF THIS MARKET and then the cab companies
can get back to doing their old business as usual .
I DO NOT purport to know what Uber will do and they have certainly not made me privy to their plans, but I do
believe that the majority of the current city council is really somewhat arrogant to think that they can make
these transportation networking companies go backwards in direction by demanding them to comply with a
method that is highly flawed and leads to much more paperwork and bureaucratic red tape than they are, and
historically have been willing to accept the unnecessitated burden for. My personal experience from working
with Uber the last 15 months is that their business model is to operate with the lowest possible overhead and
these requirements would not jive with that model at all - especially when their security measures have been so
successful and are indeed the cutting edge of the way things will almost certainly be done in the not so distant
future.
I had always prided myself in being from Austin, a city that is known globally for their forward thinking, and
innovative ways to tackle the challenges facing our ever growing world in a progressive and technologedly
advanced fashion. I must say, however, that with my personal experience with the Austin Transportation
Department, and now the current backward nature of MOST of the current council, has made me re-think that
assessment.
I realize that the challenges facing you good people are quite daunting, and frankly I would not want to be in
your shoes, but if it is really public safety you are concerned about, why not allow the TNC's to continue
operating in the way they have been with much more current and technologically advanced ways of keeping
everyone safer, with nearly a year and a half worth of successful data that supports their safety claims, and
allow them to continue to come up with innovative ways to help Austin in it's transportation growth issues,
rather than attempting to force them to go backwards and possibly lose ALL the benefits these companies have
been providing thus far! I urge you my fellow Austinites and entrusted leaders, to not allow the fear of the new
things that are evolving around us everyday to cloud your judgment, or be coerced by the established ground
transportation companies into believing that allowing the TNC's to operate and self regulate their safety
standards wil l decrease safety. The data collected thus far suggests otherwise!
I am hopeful my insights will have made an impact and that I will soon no longer have to be losing sleep over
whether I will still have a job come November 16th or not.
Very Truly Yours,
Jim R Casparis
Austin, TX 78747
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Sara LeVine
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 3:09 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
TNC regulations- items #50 and #51
DearMayor,MayorProTem,andCouncil:
OnbehalfofourBoard,IamwritingtoonceagainreinforceoursupportofTNCsandtoaskthatyoureviewthe
resolutionitemslinebylinecarefully.
WefoughthardfortheresolutiontoallowTNCstooperatelegallywelloverayearago,andsincethen,forthefirsttime
inyears,weveseentheDWIratesinAustindecrease,despitepopulationincreases.Webelievethistobeadirecteffect
oftheentryofUberandLyftinthemarket.UbersowndatashowsthattraditionallyunderservedeastAustin
neighborhoodsareusingtheirservicesfrequently,bothaspassengersanddrivers.TNCshavebeenatremendousboon
tomanyinthecommunityastheystandnowundercurrentregulations.
Forthelastyearandahalf,wevehadaremarkablysmoothridewiththem,withstatisticallynegligibleincidents
betweentheirdrivers,police,passengers,orothervehicles.Thistellsmethattheyhavesufficientchecksandbalancesin
placewithintheirowncompaniesandadditionalbackgroundandsafetyregulationswillputanunnecessaryburdenon
Cityemployees.
ATXSaferStreetsencouragesCouncilandcommitteestoinsteadaddresstheonerousregulationsonothervehiclesfor
hirewhichreducetheirabilitytocompete,ratherthanfocusonincreasedregulations.
Thankyou,
SaraLeVine
ExecutiveDirector
ATXSaferStreets
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Melissa Alvarez
Sunday, October 18, 2015 9:29 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
TNC
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Brad Ryker
Monday, October 05, 2015 1:52 PM
District 8
TNCs
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Alex Pamatat
Monday, October 12, 2015 3:40 PM
District 8
Uber/Lyft Mobility Committee Proposals
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Austin 78745
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Brian Hochradel
Thursday, October 08, 2015 3:33 PM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Uber/Lyft Regulations
I am opposed to your recommendation for proposed fingerprints for uber and Lyft drivers thus causing more
costs for these companies that offer a comparable yet more convenient alternative to taxis. There is already a
public transportation problem in this city and there is no need to add to it. If it's not broke do not fix it. Have
there been a problem with these drivers? Having used this service numerous times I have found all drivers
professional and non threatening. What would this measure accomplish other than the city making more
money? Also at the same time there is a proposal for an all time no refusal for drunk driving. These companies
have taken many drunk drivers off the road and most likely saved lives. I urge the city council to rethink this
proposition and let uber and Lyft continue to provide a much needed and safe transportation option in the city of
Austin. When/if these companies leave the city the blood of innocent motorist from drunk drivers will be on
your hands. For the record I never have or never will work for either of these companies.
Street address:
Austin 78745
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Tim Kelly
Thursday, October 15, 2015 2:18 PM
District 8
tim@wilco287.com
UBER/LYFT
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Adam Roche
Friday, November 06, 2015 1:36 PM
District 8
Uber/Ride Share
I don't agree that ride sharing companies like Uber should be changed or regulated any more than they currently
are. I used Uber last weekend as a safe ride for my wife and I from downtown to our home. The service was
great, clean, and as safe as any taxi I've ever taken. Please fight to keep the city council out of businesses it has
no role in regulating.
Street address:
, Austin TX 78739
Council District: 8
Martinez, Viveca
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Keith Heath
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 8:32 AM
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5;
Zimmerman, Don; District 7; District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Just wanted to Voice my support from Leander, Texas
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Kyle Hoskins
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Correction to "Making Austin a Safer City.": 1, not 4 cases
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:43:49 PM
s.
Fingerprint background checks are not the gold standard to avoid and solve crimes as
was echoed during the last Mobility Committee meeting. Knowing the offender, where the
offender is, what car to locate the offender in, knowing the victim, knowing where the victim
is, and knowing what time the crime occurs at comprise the modern day gold standard.
Lets prevent these cases logically using every power we have. Uber introduced a panic
button in India, which is coming soon to Chicago. It allows a passenger to secretly report their
up-to-date location to emergency contacts, a critical response team, and law enforcement. To
me, that sounds like the gold standard in prevention and is relatively easy to
implement for TNCs yet difficult for taxis.
If we were to analyze how to make taxis safer for passengers and drivers, the solution would
be technology like Lyft and Uber. Why are we trying to run the solution out of town?
We have the technology solutions to make ground transportation safer, and those solutions
dont require an unnecessary fingerprint background check that will destroy the positive
impacts on traffic and the environment that Lyft Line/Uber Pool carpooling services provide
in the everyone [that qualifies] with a car should be a driver world. Limiting Lyft and
Uber to being better cabs is narrow-sighted and a mistake.
When Lyft pulls out of Austin and Uber temporarily pulls out, do you think that will make
Austin safer?
Thanks,
Kyle
Feel free to contact me at
or 512-739-7623
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Kyle Hoskins
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Correction to "Making Austin a Safer City.": 1, not 4 cases
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2:43:49 PM
s.
Fingerprint background checks are not the gold standard to avoid and solve crimes as
was echoed during the last Mobility Committee meeting. Knowing the offender, where the
offender is, what car to locate the offender in, knowing the victim, knowing where the victim
is, and knowing what time the crime occurs at comprise the modern day gold standard.
Lets prevent these cases logically using every power we have. Uber introduced a panic
button in India, which is coming soon to Chicago. It allows a passenger to secretly report their
up-to-date location to emergency contacts, a critical response team, and law enforcement. To
me, that sounds like the gold standard in prevention and is relatively easy to
implement for TNCs yet difficult for taxis.
If we were to analyze how to make taxis safer for passengers and drivers, the solution would
be technology like Lyft and Uber. Why are we trying to run the solution out of town?
We have the technology solutions to make ground transportation safer, and those solutions
dont require an unnecessary fingerprint background check that will destroy the positive
impacts on traffic and the environment that Lyft Line/Uber Pool carpooling services provide
in the everyone [that qualifies] with a car should be a driver world. Limiting Lyft and
Uber to being better cabs is narrow-sighted and a mistake.
When Lyft pulls out of Austin and Uber temporarily pulls out, do you think that will make
Austin safer?
Thanks,
Kyle
Feel free to contact me at
or 512-739-7623
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
I am writing the members of the city council to urge them to consider carefully the fingerprint
background requirements proposed by Councilwoman Ann Kitchen. Austin is in the middle
of a long growth period and is undergoing many changes. One of these changes is
densification of our urban areas. To enable this type of growth we will need to both build
more hi-density homes, apartments and condos but we will also need to increase our public
transportation options. Uber and Lyft's ride sharing option can easily scale both up and down
in a way that other public transportation options can not. Please don't implement regulations
that would force this option away from our city. A better option in my opinion would be to
allow the service to run for a while and require the ride sharing companies to provide better
and more accurate data to the city so that the council can make a more informed choice when
contemplating regulations of this new industry.
Street address:
Council District: District not found
From:
To:
Bcc:
Subject:
Date:
Just writing to follow up with you on your email about Lyft, Uber, and similar services. Were quite
grateful for your time and thank you for writing in. Your perspective as a driver and passenger is
much appreciated. We definitely hear what you are saying regarding the economic impact of further
regulations on Austinites ability to continue to afford living in the city. This issue is something that
we are actively working on here.
Regards,
Catherine Van Arnam, District Coordinator, Council Member Troxclair District 8
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Carlo Garcia
District 8
Re: Proposed regulations on TNC
Thursday, October 08, 2015 10:32:02 AM
Just writing to follow up with you on your email about Lyft, Uber, and similar services.
Were quite grateful for your time and thank you for writing in. Your perspective as a
driver and passenger is much appreciated. We definitely hear what you are saying
regarding the economic impact of further regulations on Austinites ability to continue
to afford living in the city. This issue is something that we are actively working on here.
Regards,
Catherine Van Arnam, District Coordinator, Council Member Troxclair District 8
In the meantime we are austinites giving rides to other austinites that need them,
picking people up that have been drinking and would otherwise drive because of
cost and the fact that we are usually there within 5 minutes.
I urge you to think of this before making your decision. And I hope for the sake of
a huge Austin community that you reject the proposed regulations.
Regards
Street address:
Council District: District not found
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Just writing to follow up with you on your email about Lyft, Uber, and similar services.
Were quite grateful for your time and thank you for writing in. Your perspective as a
driver and passenger is much appreciated. We definitely hear what you are saying
regarding the economic impact of further regulations on Austinites ability to continue
to afford living in the city. This issue is something that we are actively working on here.
Regards,
Catherine Van Arnam, District Coordinator, Council Member Troxclair District 8
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Alex,
Thank you for reaching out to our office regarding TNCs. We will certainly keep your comments in
mind as we move along the policy process. This item comes before the Council on Thursday, so I
encourage you to tune in (channel 6).
Have a wonderful rest of your day, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or
comments.
Best,
Michelle Brucato
Executive Assistant
Office of Austin City Council Member Ellen Troxclair, District 8
(512) 978-2108
Michelle.Brucato@austintexas.gov
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Rebecca Knight
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Regarding Measures to Enforce $1 per ride tax and Chauffeur Licencing, etc
Tuesday, September 08, 2015 10:35:23 PM
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Kyle Hoskins
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Revised TNC Regulation Proposals
Tuesday, October 06, 2015 1:56:05 PM
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Sara LeVine
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
TNC regulations- items #50 and #51
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 3:09:43 PM
We fought hard for the resolution to allow TNCs to operate legally well over a year ago, and since
then, for the first time in years, weve seen the DWI rates in Austin decrease, despite population
increases. We believe this to be a direct effect of the entry of Uber and Lyft in the market. Ubers
own data shows that traditionally underserved east Austin neighborhoods are using their services
frequently, both as passengers and drivers. TNCs have been a tremendous boon to many in the
community as they stand now under current regulations.
For the last year and a half, weve had a remarkably smooth ride with them, with statistically
negligible incidents between their drivers, police, passengers, or other vehicles. This tells me that
they have sufficient checks and balances in place within their own companies and additional
background and safety regulations will put an unnecessary burden on City employees.
ATX Safer Streets encourages Council and committees to instead address the onerous regulations on
other vehicles for hire which reduce their ability to compete, rather than focus on increased
regulations.
Thank you,
Sara LeVine
Executive Director
ATX Safer Streets
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Sara LeVine
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
TNC regulations- items #50 and #51
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 3:09:43 PM
We fought hard for the resolution to allow TNCs to operate legally well over a year ago, and since
then, for the first time in years, weve seen the DWI rates in Austin decrease, despite population
increases. We believe this to be a direct effect of the entry of Uber and Lyft in the market. Ubers
own data shows that traditionally underserved east Austin neighborhoods are using their services
frequently, both as passengers and drivers. TNCs have been a tremendous boon to many in the
community as they stand now under current regulations.
For the last year and a half, weve had a remarkably smooth ride with them, with statistically
negligible incidents between their drivers, police, passengers, or other vehicles. This tells me that
they have sufficient checks and balances in place within their own companies and additional
background and safety regulations will put an unnecessary burden on City employees.
ATX Safer Streets encourages Council and committees to instead address the onerous regulations on
other vehicles for hire which reduce their ability to compete, rather than focus on increased
regulations.
Thank you,
Sara LeVine
Executive Director
ATX Safer Streets
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Jonathan Marmon
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
TNC Regulations
Monday, September 07, 2015 5:35:46 PM
I recently started driving for both Uber and Lyft to earn some extra money to help with the
bills. The money has helped me with my student loan payments and has helped me get caught
up financially. I am staying as a driver because I see what impact I can have on my
community. I am a sober driver for those who want to have fun. I am an inexpensive option
for someone to travel home. I am an elderly man's ride to his doctors appointments and
physical therapy that would cost him double in a normal taxi cab. Please do not take this away
from me by imposing more fees. You will be taking money directly out of my pocket and I
don't really see the benefit of it.
Street address:
Council District: District not found
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Brad Ryker
District 8
TNCs
Monday, October 05, 2015 1:52:09 PM
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
barry woltag
Adler, Steve; Houston, Ora; District 2; Renteria, Sabino; Casar, Gregorio; District 5; Zimmerman, Don; District 7;
District 8; Tovo, Kathie; District10
Uber/Lyft
Sunday, October 11, 2015 4:11:00 PM
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Tim Kelly
District 8
UBER/LYFT
Thursday, October 15, 2015 2:18:14 PM