A proposal presented to the Kansas City, Mo. City Council Thursday would make it easier for ride-hiring services like Uber and Lyft.
It would require drivers that work for the companies to get city permits. Also, it lowers the cost of the permits from $300 to $250.
The revisions do not address an area of contention for smaller taxi companies. They would like to eliminate the exclusive contract the city's largest taxi company, Yellow Cab, has with downtown hotels. The contracts forbid other cab companies from picking up passengers on hotel property without prior notification.
Kansas City council member Dick Davis told the Transportation and Infrastructure committee that these contracts hurt women and minority-owned taxi companies.
“We’ve got a playing field that’s unbalanced, and made possible because we’ve given Yellow two thirds of the permits, that to me is discriminatory," said Davis.
The proposed changesare available for public comment for the next thirty days. After that, the the council will again consider the proposed ordinance revisions.