June 12, 2017

Mayor Steven T. Noble

City Hall
420 Broadway
Kingston, NY 12401

Mr. Mayor:

I read with interest the article in the May 18th Daily Freeman concerning the pending start of Lyft, Uber,
and other app based transportation providers.

I have owned Kingston Kabs for 24 years and have provided 24 hour, 7 day service to Kingston, and
surrounding Ulster County. I find it remarkable that you and the County Executive are lauding Lyft and
Uber when neither of you have ever shown any interest in the present taxi industry. I've never been
invited to a meeting or discussion of the problems we encounter with the total lack of enforcement of
the current taxi ordinance. There has never been a discussion of the proliferation of unlicensed taxis
operating with impunity in the City.

In the article, Lyft says their presence in Kingston will create jobs. I have over 35 employees. They are
hard working people trying to make a living instead of asking for help from the County. I can say with
certainty that none of them are in financial position to buy a car, pay for livery insurance, gas and
maintenance. What will happen to them? Will they lose their jobs provided by a local business to
international conglomerates who have no loyalty to them whatsoever. I have lent money to my
employees, helped bury them, fought for them with the City. I don't see any of this happening with the
people you believe are the answer to the transportation infrastructure.

Also, the present ordinance which I adhere to but is routinely ignored by the Police Department,
requires the following:

All taxi companies are supposed to be registered with the City and pay an annual fee.
All vehicles are to be licensed with the City, pay an annual fee, and are subject to safety checks.
All vehicles must carry proper livery insurance
All drivers must be licensed by the City and pay a yearly fee
All drivers must submit to fingerprinting (which I pay for) and will be denied a drivers' badge if
they have felony convictions.
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Our rates are capped at $5.50 for a trip within the city limits. There has not been an increase
since 2011. We also were pressured by the City to offer senior citizen discounts which we are
not legally required to. We do it as an accommodation to our customers. Will Lyft and Uber
have to adhere to this rate structure?
I am open 24/7, 365 days a year. We are the transportation alternative when Kingston City Bus
and UCAT close for the day.
I carry Workers Comp and disability insurance as required by NYS.

You spoke of the problem of hiring drivers. We have applicants who are fingerprinted and their
applications submitted to Kingston Police. Their applications can sit for months before being reviewed.
Do you think they will wait that length of time to find work?

I can go on listing areas that the app based companies routinely sidestep, not the least is driver
qualification and vehicle oversight. Are you ready to let these companies run unsupervised and find that
one of their drivers is a convicted sex offender who is transporting children when we discovered this
information through the mandated fingerprint procedure?

Uber uses "surge pricing", charging more during peak hours and inclement weather. Will they be
allowed to do the same in Kingston? Will we be limited to the current antiquated rate while they are
free to charge what they please?

Kingston and adjacent areas of Ulster County do not have the same population base as NYC, Long Island,
and Westchester. This is not an ever expanding market. There is a fixed number of taxis the area can
support. Adding more players will only dilute the market and cause the loss of jobs. Additionally, the
majority of our ridership is people in a lower economic strata. I question whether they will use a web
based app that requires a credit card on file.

It is my opinion that allowing Uber, Lyft, and similar entities to operate without following the guidelines
of the City Taxi Ordinance also means that there is no reason for us to adhere to it as well. I have paid
my fees to the City for 24 years. I totally accept it is the cost of doing business. But, as a businessman, I
feel I am entitled to something for my money. That is the enforcement of the Ordinance and the
protection I deserve for operating under its guidelines.

My point is that before you wrap your arms around these entities, take the time to analyze and learn
about what we do and the problems we face. Perhaps the first step is deal with the present system,
clean it up, and see if local business people with local workers can provide the service you want and the
people of Kingston deserve.

I will make myself available at any time to discuss this issue. I would appreciate a meeting to see what
can be done to protect us from this intrusion. My people have worked extremely hard to build our
business. They deserve a little of your time before you make a decision that will cost many of them their
jobs.

Very truly yours,

Jeff Weintraub
President