High-powered lobbyists at ride-sharing hearing

Competition between ride-sharing companies and taxicabs is the legislative equivalent of a heavyweight title fight.

That much was obvious Monday by the clout-heavy lobbyists who filled the City Council chambers for a 4 ½ -hour hearing.

Representing the taxi industry was former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Corporation Counsel Mara Georges, joined by lobbyists Mike Alvarez, Mike Noonan and Amy Kurson.

In the other corner, UberX was represented by attorney Michael Kasper, who helped Mayor Rahm Emanuel survive the residency challenge to his candidacy. Lyft was represented by John Dunn and by Tim Dart, brother of Sheriff Tom Dart.

What brought them out was a resolution championed by a pair of powerful aldermen demanding the city shut down ride-sharing companies siphoning business from taxicabs.

Finance Committee Chairman Edward Burke (14th) said he wrote a letter to Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton two years ago demanding to know what Patton intended to do to enforce a 148-year-old city ordinance that makes it unlawful to “operate a motor vehicle for the transportation for hire” in Chicago unless it is licensed by the city. Burke claims he never got a response.

Although the ride-sharing companies showed up in force, they chose not to testify, Burke said.

Instead, they staged a news conference that saw Ald. “Proco” Joe Moreno (1st), riders and drivers portray the controversy as a battle between the “Flintstones” and the Jetsons.”