City Council Makes Way for Ride-hailing Companies in Birmingham
The Birmingham City Council voted today on revisions to the city’s transportation code which would allow ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate in the city. The council voted 7 to 1 in favor of the changes. Councilwoman Valerie Abbott voted against them. Councilwoman Kim Rafferty abstained.
An amendment was added which requires the city to evaluate ride-hailing companies after six months. The vote comes more than a year after the council and Uber began negotiations.
Talks that started in summer 2014 broke down over issues of permits, insurance and background checks for drivers. A new round of negotiations reached an agreement in November but the council twice delayed voting on the measure. The first time was because the council canceled a meeting for lack of a quorum and then at a subsequent meeting the ordinance did not win enough support from council members to put it on the agenda.
The Birmingham Business Journal reports Uber could begin expanding into the city in the next few weeks.
Mountain Brook is the first Birmingham area municipality to allow ride-hailing companies to operate. The city council there approved an ordinance just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Homewood passed a similar measure Monday.
New books this week: War, murder, and Lionel Richie
This week's notable book releases promise a veritable potpourri of death — and a celebration of life from one of America's most ubiquitous singers.
‘Like ice melting’: Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia
China's jailing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan highlights a deeper press freedom crisis across Asia.
Scientists create human eggs in the lab, using skin cells
Scientists created the eggs using DNA from adult skin cells, a step that could someday potentially lead to new ways to treat infertility and enable gay couples to have genetically related children.
Second detainee dies after shooting at Dallas ICE facility
Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, 32, had been on life support after what authorities called a targeted act of violence toward federal immigration agents. He leaves behind four kids and his wife, pregnant with their fifth.
Energy Dept. tells employees not to use words including ‘climate change’ and ‘green’
The banned words list applies to all work done at the largest federal funder of clean energy technology.
Birmingham’s Bengali community breaks barriers with annual Durga Puja
Durga Puja is a Bengali celebration during the 9-day long Hindu festival of Navratri, which celebrates divine feminine energy in all forms. Across India, celebrations vary in scale, focus and tradition.
