SERINO ONCE AGAIN CALLS FOR CONSENSUS ON RIDE-SHARING BILL

ALBANY, NY—Today, as the New York State Senate passed a new bill aimed at bringing ride-sharing to upstate communities, Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) once again urged her colleagues in the Assembly and the Executive to act to resolve this important issue.  

“Actions speak louder than words when it comes to making New York ‘open for business,’ ” said Senator Serino. “There is a clear demand for the services provided by companies like Uber and Lyft who are using innovative business models to spur economic development throughout the country. At a time when there is an unprecedented emphasis on revitalizing downtowns across the state— and our seniors and our college students are desperately in need of affordable transportation options—passing this legislation just makes sense. It’s time to cut through the red tape, put people ahead of politics and finally put this issue to bed.”

While existing transportation options provide an invaluable service to so many communities, the fact remains that resources are stretched thin and they are no longer meeting the demand of our ever-growing population. Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft emerged as a means to meeting that growing demand effectively and efficiently by providing a digital platform that matches consumers with local drivers offering rides using their personal vehicles.

In our state, these companies currently only operate in New York City where they are regulated by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). The bill that passed the Senate today creates a comprehensive framework for operation of these companies throughout the rest of the state aimed at ensuring both passenger and driver safety.

Notably, the bill stands out from the Executive Budget Proposal as it greatly reduces the taxes associated with rides originating outside of NYC. The Governor’s budget proposal would require upstate consumers to pay a 5.5 percent tax on their rides, while the bill passed today would reduce that amount to 2 percent. The new revenue generated through that 2 percent tax would then be utilized to improve infrastructure and county transit.

“Few examples better illustrate just how difficult it is to do business here in New York than the amount of time it has taken to come to a resolution on ride-sharing,” said Serino. “When it comes to attracting and growing businesses in the state, New Yorkers deserve more than catchy slogans and lip service. While we have made strides in the past two years, it’s clear that there is still more work to be done if we want to keep businesses here, spur innovation and drive economic development. Passing this legislation represents a significant step forward and I urge the Governor and my colleagues in the Assembly to help make ride-sharing a reality for communities outside of NYC.”

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