Donat. Down. That's Heat. Heat. Mera and Mr. Driggs. >> Should go ahead. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Can we go ahead and get started? Yes. Okay. Well, welcome everyone and apologies for the technical difficulties. Apparently, there were some uh >> there were some technical gremlins at work. My name is Dante Anderson. I am the chair of the public safety committee and I will let my other two colleagues who are on the call introduce themselves and we'll get right to it. >> Good afternoon. I'm Dimple Ashra, a committee member. >> Edriggings, committee member. >> Thank you. And I just wanted to say good afternoon and welcome you all to this uh PVH stakeholder input session. As many of you know u you may recall in our last safety committee meeting I expressed the desire for the committee to hear directly from stakeholders and all of the committee members want to hear directly from the stakeholders and that's the purpose of today's call. We have roughly about 25 people who have registered to speak today. And since this call ends at 5:00 p.m., um I'd like for us to jump directly into um the the the details of this call. Can I ask if attorney Jessica Battle is on the call? Miss Battle, have you been able to join us? >> Good morning, Chairwoman Anderson. Yes, I am on via phone, but at this time I do not have the video access via WebEx. >> That that's quite all right. So, I'm going to hand it over to uh Miss Battle, and she will be navigating through all of the participants that have signed up to speak. I will say that we have put a time limit of two minutes uh per participant given that we have roughly 25 people. So, we want to have everyone have the opportunity to speak, but we want to make sure we can get through it so we we we hear from you directly. And with that, I'm going to pass it over to Miss Battle. >> Thank you, Council Member Anderson. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for joining us. I apologize for the technical issue I'm experiencing over here, but as council member Anderson stated, given the number of speakers who registered for this session, we will be granting each speaker 2 minutes to speak on our input session. Please be aware that I will give a verbal warning at the 30 secondond mark. And then once we get past or once we reach your 2 minutes, you will then hear a buzzing sound to let you know that you have reached your two minutes and your time to speak is done. It's important to note that you cannot yield your time to another speaker. Your two minutes is your two minutes only. So we can maintain fairness for the speakers. I will call your name in the order in which your registration and RSVP was submitted and you'll be able to begin again to speak when it is your turn. Please state your name and which particular company you are speaking on behalf of. Again, I will give you a 30 minute warning. I will advise that the purpose of today's session is purely for your input and to be fair to all of our registered speakers, we will not be able to have a Q&A of any sort. So, we will not be answering questions on today's date. Um, if you do have any follow-up questions, you can email it to us or email it to our PBH team. But given the sake of time, we will go ahead and get started. And our first speaker is Mr. Sha Glasco. And Mr. Glasco, you have your two minutes and you may begin. >> All right. Am I live with audio? >> Yes, we can hear you. And I will not be on video. Is that correct? It doesn't matter. >> You might be on video. I don't have video access, but I can hear you and we'll have the buzzer go through. >> Right. Well, unfortunately, I had a 4-minute speech. I'll try to cut it back down. But I am Sean Glasco, the owner of Peak Limousine, a Charlottebased company, and I've operated under the PBH ordinances for 20 years. So, I do support public safety. I support accountability and I also support thoughtful regulation that protects residents. But the regulation itself must reflect the market it governs. And earlier this month, the safety committee reviewed recommendations from city attorney office regarding changes to the PVH. While I appreciate that work, I do believe uh a full market scale uh wasn't sufficiently analyzed because during that meeting I mentioned that Uber and Lyft and TNC's make up the majority of our uh trips within the Charlotte area. And that kind of got the ear of attorney Gabby Kelly in reference to that was a very compelling argument she mentioned to me. So with that, the comment is important because scale changes everything. Based on reasonable urban modeling, Uber and Lyft likely generate 20 to 30 million trips per year within Charlotte city limits. Traditional black car, limousine, and taxi generates between 300 to 500,000 trips. That means approximately 95 to 97% of total hired trips in the city of Charlotte are from TNC's. Black car providers represent roughly 2 to 5% of all trips in this market. So let me ask a simple question and the last let me skip that part for time. Yet PBH regulation applies almost entirely to the two to 5%. So if PVA PBH exists for public safety, we must ask whether regulating two to 5% >> two to 5% of the operators meaningful improvement safety when 95 to 97% of the trips are governed at a state level and exempt from local PBH ordinances. Uh local operators must maintain a lot of different regulations that nobody else has to. I'll skip over that. If safety is truly the goal, regulation must align with where public exposure actually occurs. Uh the most practical place to begin with that is the Charlotte airport. >> And um see, so if public safety is the foundation of the PBH, then our policies must be measured against the full scope of the market which they meant to protect. So I respectfully ask council base any changes on comprehensive data, jurisdictional clarity and proportional impact before moving forward. Thank you for your cons. >> Thank you. And our next speaker is Mr. Dennis Cunningham. >> Mr. Cunningham, are you present? Mr. Cunningham. All right, we will move to our next speaker. Z the fua biscuit. >> I'm here. >> Oh, Mr. Cunningham, you're here. >> Yes, it was muted on my end, so it allowed me to unmute in the system. >> Uh, good afternoon starts now. >> Okay, I'll be pretty brief. Uh my uh concern or question is on the labeling of an agency vehicle in the ordinance. Uh I've sent over the information to your office and email regarding this. Haven't yet got a response. Uh I did contact uh the department of administration uh the fleet management division and they stated that if anything they're saying it's a agency vehicle the agencies must own or lease those vehicles and the the the cab companies now that's got these direct contracts are doing a DBA as a transportation company where they don't have to continue the domes and everything else but they're technically ally are legally not an agency vehicle because they're not owned by the agency they contract with and the only leasing that the agency does is through fleet management. I talked to Mr. bill up there this week as well. And so they're going to be checking into this especially with the DSS. Now that department don't govern the schools, the Charlotte Meckllinburgg school as they do universities. So they turn me over to the general assembly division over there and they're looking into this too because if in in the in the assembly the the chapter 20 and 10A they state that if you're carrying students or human services which the operating states that you're exempt from the local audience of the PVH. So, I beg y'all to get with the state because that's a violation right there. And these companies need to get a separate uh company set up. They're operating in similar TNC spaces, but they are not an agency vehicle just for sake of having a contact with the in a government agency. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Cunningham. Our next speaker on the list is Zafua Bet of Kiki Transportation. Zafua Beset, are you present? >> Yes. >> All right. >> Thank you. Your two minutes start now. >> Okay. Thank you. Um um Kiki transport is um is publishes 2023 but I uh get reward 2024 um general transportation by McLember County but I still not got the job. Um but I my content I still pay the insurance or without working but finally the by DS they contact me it's going to be charge on in the future after I renew all my uh company and driver uh next month I'm just waiting for the job that's my concern just without uh starting the job paying the insurance or commercial that's all that's that you still waiting with hope to start the job thank you okay thank you all right next up is Fe Tassy of Tassy Trucks Tassy are you present Believe Tassy, are you present? >> All right. Next up is Mayor Kendle from Crown Cab Transportation. Mr. Kandow, are you present? >> I am. I am. I'd asked if we go last. Uh, is it any way to rearrange or do I have to go now? We want to preserve the fairness that we gave in the instructions of the invite that we will go in the order of invitations received or RSVPs received. So we will go ahead and do your time now. Sir, >> are you ready? >> Great. Um, sure. Yes. Um, council member starts now. >> Thank you. Council members, I sent you a link to what I wanted to present. I had talked out three minutes. I'm only available to have two minutes. Um, I've said this over and over over again. We want upfront pricing. Um, what you'll see in that note is uh, Council Member Driggs, who's a Republican, doesn't believe in market pricing, and I couldn't understand that. I was hoping to have an open conversation with them about it, but we are just looking for the privilege to have pricing set up front. Um, and just like TNC's, Ubers, and Lifts, they can set they tell the customer what the price is. If we set the price too high, then the customer won't walk. Won't take our trip. But Mr. Driggs, uh, I don't understand how the market fails everywhere. Oh, I mean, how the market fails here. Um, we were just liking the privilege to give an upfront pricing. I've laid this out in my uh document for which I sent a link. Uh, the first page was the speech that I wanted to give. I mean, in short, TNC's innovation isn't uh technology. The TNC's invitation was their flagrant disregard of local laws and their choice to set up state laws on according to their whatever they wanted to do. And the city just sat by and watched. Um, and as Sean pointed out, we're such a small fraction of the industry. Not I don't know if any of you have ever taken a taxi in the last 5 years, and I'm sure each one of you is probably taking TNC's. So, you're governing an anacronistic entity, and you're doing it without experience, and it's really unfair. and unproductive. Um, I laid out m council member more details on how to affect the changes and I've laid them out in greater detail. I've tried to reach out to uh to him and to others on the committee directly about exactly how we want to affect change. This price gouging fear is misguided and misplaced and uh misses the point and is u and I'd love to discuss with this issue with each one of you. Please give us upfront pricing. It makes it at least a little bit closer to parody in terms of market competition. Uh, thank you. >> Right. Thank you. Next is Jeff Cook of Seauite Transportation. Is Jeff Cook present? Is Jeff Cook present? All right. Next, we have Zabine Missile of AA Prestige. Zabine Missile, are you present? Zabin Michelle, are you present? >> Okay. Can you hear me now? >> Yes. Who Who am I speaking with? >> Zab Me. >> Zab Mei. Thank you so much. Um, your two minutes starts now. You may begin. >> Good afternoon, council members. Uh, again, my name is Abel Masella representing Prestige Taxi Service Incorporated. And again, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'm here to respectfully request that the city council consider updating the current passenger vehicle for hire ordinance extending the age limit from 10 years to 15 years old. This is not about lowering safety standards. This is about keeping our passenger vehicle for higher industry competitive and fair in today's market. Ride shares like Uber and Lift already allow vehicles up to 15 years old in many markets and vehicle for higher operators should have a comparable standard. So we are not competing with one hand tied behind our back. Right now, the cost of replacing a vehicle every 10 years is a major financial burden in today's economy for passenger vehicle for higher operators and independent drivers. Vehicle prices have risen, interest rates are higher, and insurance and maintenance costs and gas prices continue to increase. When replacement is required too early, many drivers simply cannot afford to stay in the industry or they choose not to enter it at all. That reduces the number of licensed passenger vehicle for hired drivers hurt service availability and limits transportation options for residents who rely on these services. If the city allows well-maintained vehicles to operate up to 15 years, drivers can lower their overhead and keep more of what they earn without sacrificing public safety. A more affordable vehicle requirement would attract more driver to the passenger vehicle for higher industry, increase the number of available vehicles on the road, and help customers get faster pickups, especially during peak hours, late nights, and in areas where ride share supply is not always reliable. To be clear, I'm not asking the city to relax with the safety rules. I'm asking the city to modernize the policy and focus on vehicle condition rather than just vehicle age. We can modify this change with stricter inspections, annual or semianual checks, clear clearer maintenance standards and the immediate removal of any vehicle that fails to meet them. This update, >> thank you sir. That is your time. >> All right, we will go back. Um, the next person is Maria Saras of Charlotte Black Car Services. Is Maria Sarris or Maria Saris present? >> Yes, Maria's here. >> Hi, thank you for joining us. Your two minutes will start now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. My name is Maria Saras and I am the CEO and owner of Charlotte Black Car Service. Um, I agree with Sean uh Glasgow from Peak Limo around uh a lot of the things that he said, but I want to bring up an opportunity for all of you to understand that PVH, the actual organization, needs to do more on accountability. I'm tired of seeing um folks who are under the ZTAG PBH company uh doing illegal uh you know kind of I don't even I don't even want to call it um you know illegal but what they're doing is they're fishing for rides. They're at concerts. They're at sporting events. They're out there saying I'm free for hire. they're not going through the proper protocols of documenting all of their um rides, you know, as insurance would require, as I require for my, you know, my clients and not only that, my business, right? You want to manifest. They're picking up rides for cash. Um I'm appalled that PBH qualifies Venmo as a form of payment when I actually have to pay a payment processing system. Um, I actually pay to have my credit cards processed, my systems, everything I pay for. And I'm tired of seeing those folks out there who under the umbrella of PVH, right, who I work alongside and have to do the same paperwork, have the same insurance, they're out there, you know, fishing for rides. Um, it it's disturbing. It's you know I I don't know how illegal it is but if something was to happen right there is going to be a price to pay and why should we take that type of risk right so thinking about how we go about making sure we modify all of the rules and you know going out having PBH scout areas go to the airport go to these concerts your police officers train them to see these things. They're important to keep public safety. That is why you ask us for a manifest. That is why PBH asks me every year to show, you know, what my clients are paying so that matches my price list. But it that goes out the window if you all are not doing it for everyone. So I, you know, I ask and I plead that you all take a look at this process. Venvo is not a form of payment for a business. I I I I I don't understand that. And pulling up to Spectrum Center and asking people if they want a ride is not a manifest. That is not good business. That is not what the city needs. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. And as a reminder, um, when your time is cut, if you do have anything that you would like to add, you may certainly send that to us by email. We will make sure that the committee members of council get that information. Um, next on our list is O Yeti Hoskins of Yet Transportation. Is O Yeti Hoskins present? >> Yes, I'm present. Um, >> hi. You may begin. Thank you. So um I just want to read somebody I think is the Ben mentioned something from Prestige mentioned about the car um the the years from 10 to 15 the something I want to talk about myself as far as a small business and having a limited amount of fleets. Um, I just want to say um, uh, see if something that can be considered as far extending that time because, uh, for small business, it's hard to really get a brand new car every time. And nowadays, like the economy, everything is expensive. Insurance is expensive and all that. So, um, I'm just, you know, putting it out there getting so you guys can review that and see how that can be extended maybe, I don't know, 10, five, another five years or so. uh to help small businesses who's you know in competition other company that's larger and have a lot of these costs. So uh I think that cover what I need to say. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Our next speaker is Gra is Grace Obus of Mission Post Transportation. Is Grace Obus present? Is Grace Abusay present? All right. Next is Frank Gnor of GEK Luxury Transportation. Frank Gunnore. Is Frank Gnor present? All right, moving to our next speaker, Nigatu Kasa of Quickpick Transportation. Is Nigatu Kasa present? Nigatu Kasa? >> Yes, I am. >> Hi, thank you so much for joining us. Your two minutes starts now. You may begin. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um, Nigat Kasa from Quickpick Transportation, Inc. Um, I just want to uh not add but just a string is what Mr. Zaban and my brother earlier mentioned about the 10-year vehicle that kind of it going to kind of give us an opportunity to compete with the bigger ride share companies. So to keep the business in Charlotte and also hire uh more drivers in in the city. The other thing I want to mention is about the PBH's drug test uh rule. Uh the drivers in Charlotte or here uh we are required to give uh two type of drug test. The 10 panel and the five panel which is all the DOT or FDA requires five panel. the DOT five panel and the county uh requires the five panel but we have no idea why the PBH is requiring that 10 panel which which making drivers pay twice for the same uh requirement. It is for everybody ride share uh the county uh any uh u agencies they require the do uh by the federal transit safety and the transit and also department of transportation but the PBHS this uh 10 panel drug test and the driver is a little bit bring burden on the driver which is uh costy uh compared to other riders share companies what the regulation follows with the ride share companies and other agencies. So this one is like Zana Mr. that Ba mentioned earlier. We just want to say uh we want to keep a business in Charlotte in Charlotte uh bring good service, increase technology and then hire more drivers to stay in business competitively. That's why thank you. >> Thank you so much. Our next speaker is Kamal Elak with Chama L. Transportation. Is Kamal El Kayak present? Kamal El Kayak. All right. Next is Jesus Rosario of Deluxe Car Services. Is Jesus Rosario present? Jesus Rosario. Next on our speakers list is Salah Alazali from Amir Transportation. Salah Alkahazali from Amir Transportation. Are you present? Next is Musa Ali of AR Enterprises. Musa Ali, are you present? Musa Ali of AR Enterprises. Is Musa Ali present? Next we have Raphael Viegas of Greater Life Limo. Raphael Viegas, are you present? >> Hi, thank you so much for joining us. You may go ahead and begin your two minutes. We'll start now. Thank you. Jessica, I think that I saw that Salah was able to join the name that you called to previously. >> Okay, Salah, are you ready? Salah alohi. Are you ready for your input? >> Hello. >> Hi. You may begin. Your two minutes will start now. Thank you. >> Hi. How are you? >> Good. Thank you. >> Yes, I can. My my my friend is speak um sorry uh I sorry I have nothing thank you >> okay thank you did we have Musa Ali or Raphael Viega All right, we would ask if you're not if it's not your turn to speak, please make sure you are muted. Um, next on our speakers list is Mamemed Aloa of Atlas Limousine. Mahamemed Alawa of Atlas Limousine. Are you present? >> All right. Next, we have Taj Ferguson of Grand Arrival LLC. Taj Ferguson, are you present? >> Jessica, I saw the name Kamal pop out. Kamal was about four or five previous. >> Okay. Kamal Elk of Kama L Transportation, are you ready for your two minutes? >> Uh, yes ma'am. I was trying to unmute me but I have hard time to do it. That's why I'm >> No worries. It's no problem at all. We'll go ahead and start your two minutes. You may begin now. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Uh, my name is Kamal Alak. I'm Sham transportation owner. I have just a question quickly. uh I don't know about uh if we are allowed to work with the or like if you hiring a new driver if they are allowed to use Uber and left because in the application they said uh the PVH they cannot stop you to to work with the lift or uh or Uber as driver. I don't know if no or no uh My question is uh our driver they are allowed to do it or no that's my that's the only my question. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. Next on our speakers list Henry Preanol of Grace Limo. Henry Preston, are you present? Henry Preston of Grace Limo. All right. Next, we have Kamal Abraim of City Cab LLC. Is Kamal Abraim present? Kamal Ibrahim of City Cab. Okay, I'm going to go back to the top of the list to see if anyone has been able to join in since we've been going through and then also I'm sure some people may have had some issues unmuting themselves. So, I will just go back to the top of the list and give a couple of seconds for persons to chime in if they have joined us. Phippe Tassy of Taxi Trucks, are you present? Phippe Tassy. Jeff Cook of Sea Suite Transportation, are you present? Jeff Cook. Grace Obus of Mission Post Transportation. Grace Obus, are you present? Frank Nahor of GEK Luxury Transportation. Frank Nahor, are you present? Jesus Rosario of Deluxe Car Services. Jesus Rosario, are you present? Musa Ali Ares Enterprises. Musa Ali, Rafael Viega, Greater Life Limo. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Hi. Who are we speaking with, please? >> This is This is Musa. I'm sorry, Miss Chair. Is the Your system is totally nonsense. Is not letting you speak and not letting you unmute. So, uh, every time she was calling me three, four time previously and I was here the whole time. I was keep saying hello, hello, hello. And system doesn't allow me to unmute. So this is the first time is the is let me unmute. I'm keep keep clicking. I'm raising my hand but there is like nonsense of this system you guys are using. >> All right. I apologize for any technical is issues. Mr. Ali, you can go ahead with your two minutes. Are you ready to begin? >> Yes. Okay. So I am sorry and I respectfully respect all of you uh uh Miss Chair and all the members over here. is this is 2 minute is game is like good for maybe kindergarten not for the professional level uh where you guys need to set up the rules and regulations 2 minute cannot do anything for that the PVA chapter 22 has a lot of issues I need at least like 30 minute to speak up all those issues and I'm sorry all of the previous speakers who were speaking they were like asking more longer time on the car ride people they don't know what they're talking about that any commercial car is ridden on the these roads roads in 5 years the car is done. So it is a safety issue should not be and no they they're lying to you and they were saying that about 15 years Uber and lift allow that is two different games Uber X is different Uber black is different no Uber black in and no lift black is does not allow the black car business is a totally different business the PBHS stand for all different kind of businesses the black car should be separate rules the taxi should be separate rules and all this kind of the um your other stuff like the should not be we should not have any yearly audit that is like abused by the PBH now with the random audits and the requirements of the last 90 days manifest is totally wrong. We should be able to set the price for the customer. Customer is agreed to pay us. We should not be required any customer. This is uh like against the customer privacy where we have to provide where customer pick up >> who is the who is the customer where you pick up how you pick up all this kind of there is a lot of nonsense in the PVH so please arrange some meeting where we can have a time to to go over things to explain you this this business this is black car I'm only speaking for black car black car should not be required any yearly audit we already have provided those document we should not be questioning where we get the customer this is customer privacy customer name how much they pay you lot of things and that's that's totally wrong and this is like I I cannot give you other issues there is many many other issues right here which we can speak but you guys are saying two minute even on the previous meeting >> Mr. Ali >> all right thank you Mr. Ali, >> thank you. >> Right. Thank you. Next person will do this count out. Raphael Viegas, are you present now? Raphael Viegas. Greater Life Limo. Raphael Viegas. Mahamemed Alawa Atlas Limousine. Raphael, excuse me, Mahamemed Alawa Atlas Limousine. Are you present? Taj Ferguson, Grand Arrival LLC. Taj Ferguson, are you present? Henry Preanol, Grace Limo. Henry Preanol, are you present? Kamal Abraim City Cab LLC. Kamal Abraim, are you present? Madam chair, we have now gone through the role again for speakers and we have not had anyone additional sign up for speaking. So I will hand over the hearing to you for our closing remarks. >> Thank you, Miss Battle. And uh apologies again for the technical issues. Uh WebEx is having some difficulty and um unfortunately it impacted the meeting but fortunately we were able to get you here. Yeah. Present >> Kamalbra. >> Yes. Did you just Were you able to just join? >> Okay. We will give uh Mr. Ibrahim we will give you your two minutes. Um, and then we'll be closing up because we we had gone through the list. So, if you're able to speak now, you have two minutes. >> Your time starts now. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Come on, Abraham. Your time starts now. I was like for some reason um thank you um like I said my name is Kamal Ibrahim I'm um the operation manager Um, we don't have >> Mr. Mr. Ibraim, you're Mr. Ibrahim, you're going in and out. I'm not sure the space. >> We can't hear you clearly. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yes. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. You hear me? I'm not going to take a long time. >> Hello. How about now? >> You can. Yes, your two minutes starts now. we can begin. >> Okay. So, uh like I said, my name is Kamal Ibrahim. I'm the operation manager at SAB. >> Uh I'm sorry, there are two people trying to speak at the same time. There is a city cab and Kamal Ibrahim. I'm not sure if that's the same person, but this is the two minutes for Kamal Ibrahim. Anyone else not speaking? Please mute your your phone lines. Thank you. >> All right, Kamal Ibrahim, you may begin. >> Okay. I'm sorry. I was joining like in my phone cuz I was at the office at the beginning. Um, so as we are in city gap, I mean we are like the probably like the largest fleet in uh with BVH uh right now. I mean we don't have like a lot of any we just like requesting like you know the city of safety like you know safety committee to look at the full like ordinance chapter uh 22 cuz it need a lot updated um cuz you know as you know like the last updated it was like maybe 10 15 years ago. Um we really were not concerned a lot about the vehicle age limit because I mean we believe like you know uh and like fair market like um also like you know customer service and quality of service. Uh uh what else like um real life concerning? We see on uh we look also like at big cities like New York and this um we see the cities a big cities like they have a rules a regulation for uh Ubers but not in Charlotte. Charlotte the only big cities that does not have like um rules for Ubers. I know it's regulated by the state but also like those big cities the state regulate them but also the city they have a a regulation for Ubers where they can uh set the limit of vehicles. Um it be like at the airport or be like at >> uh we see like some Ubers or lift they come from different cities or from different across the state to work in Charlotte which is make like traffic is very bad here in Charlotte. Uh you know traffic is getting like crazy. Um so we hope like you know the city council look at this and might do something about it. Thank you. Thank you so much, madam madam chair. >> Yes, thank you. Thank thank everyone for joining us today. It was very helpful to hear from all of you. Um just to let you know the committee will continue this discussion at our March 5th committee meeting. That's at 100 p.m. in the government center. Um, if you do have any information, you can send it to council members as well. But thank you for your time and um, I will officially adjourn this meeting um, so we can um, go ahead and enjoy the rest of our afternoons. Thank you. >> Thank you.