Uber has corralled at least one citywide official to its side as it fights a proposal being pushed by the mayor to cap any real growth for the car service. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.
The private car service Uber is trying to pick up as much support as it can. On Tuesday, it came from City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
"Today, I am here to say that it makes no sense to arbitrarily cap Uber and other for-hire vehicle companies before we study the impact of congestion on the streets of New York," Stringer said.
Stringer was slamming a bill currently before the City Council to put a cap on new licenses in the for-hire car industry. The bill would essentially freeze any real growth for companies like Uber until City Hall completes a study on how this industry affects the five boroughs.
"By stopping this bill right now and having more dialogue, it's in the best interest of everyone in the city," Stringer said.
"We will see what decision we make at the appropriate time," said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
The mayor is pushing the bill, depicting Uber as a corporate giant congesting city streets. Uber is firing back, saying de Blasio is a shill for the yellow cab industry.
On Tuesday, NY1 received a first look at Uber's latest television ad, making just that argument.
Ultimately, the proposal is in the fate of the City Council.
"I believe in having as many options as you can to make sure you are getting home to the outer boroughs," said City Councilman Steven Matteo of Staten Island.
"I have mixed feelings about it," said City Councilwoman Debi Rose of Staten Island.
Supporters say they have enough votes to push the bill through.
The speaker says she is still undecided. In fact, Mark-Viverito refused to tell us whether the Council would even vote on the measure this week.
"We're the legislature for the city of New York, and we have to be very responsible for the future of New York City as well, so there's a lot to weigh here," she said. "And I think unfortunately, there has been a lot of mischaracterization and misrepresentation of the facts."
Earlier this week, the mayor was encouraging the City Council to vote on the cap as soon as possible. Whether that will still be this week is a bit unclear.