Ashton Kutcher weighs in on NYC Uber fight, Alabama at relative standstill
In a FaceBook post Monday night Ashton Kutcher, who is an investor in Uber and other technology, weighed in on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s proposed regulations to limit the ride sharing service in New York City. Kutcher doesn’t mince words when he says de Blasio is “trying to regulate a problem without providing a single solution other than putting a target on a companies back so he can keep getting political funding from another. This is the kind of corrupt shortsighted politics that is destroying innovation.” In an op-ed that ran in the New York Daily News Sunday the mayor said: Our responsibilities as public servants are clear: We’re here to keep people safe, make sure workers and consumers are treated fairly, and keep this city growing and competitive. And right now, like cities across the country and around the world, we’re working to do all those things in an industry that’s changing fast: the for-hire vehicle sector being reshaped by fast-growing companies like Uber. More than 2,000 new for-hire vehicles are being added to our streets every month, overwhelming the most congested parts of Manhattan. For perspective, that means we’re facing the addition of over 25,000 cars to our streets over the next year — the rough equivalent of two times the total number of yellow taxis in all of New York City. While most businesses recognize the role of the city to set basic standards and look out for the broader public interest, Uber — a $40 billion corporation — is out with multi-million dollar ads trying to convince New Yorkers that it doesn’t need more oversight. The number of for-hire vehicles is soaring. This isn’t just a New York City issue. In Uber’s home state of California, a court just recommended that the company be suspended and fined $7.3 million for failing to share data with the state, as required by law, to ensure they are not discriminating against passengers. London is looking at capping or slowing the increase in new for-hire services to address the growing crush of traffic on its streets. Massachusetts has moved to raise standards for Uber’s workers. And Uber has tangled with regulators in jurisdictions across the country over basic insurance requirements to keep drivers and passengers protected. When you consider what’s at stake — from ensuring workers can make a decent living, to managing the surge of more than 2,000 new cars on our streets every month, to protecting consumers from overcharges, to making sure we have more accessible vehicles for New Yorkers with disabilities — it’s our responsibility to act. New York City’s for-hire vehicles have been regulated lightly compared to other sectors for decades because they were a relatively small part of our transportation system. That’s all changed. The upside for riders has been more options when someone needs a ride, and that’s a very positive thing. But there are a host of challenges that come with this, and now that Uber has gone from upstart innovator to operating more cars than anyone else, we have to make sure that the rules are fair for all New Yorkers. We want a data-driven approach, guided by detailed study, so we can develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy for a thriving, sustainable and innovative for-hire car market. And we support a short pause in the rapid increase of for-hire vehicles to make sure that the future growth of this industry lives up to the policies and principles we set out as a city. We’ll ensure that current service remains in place — and can even grow modestly — but our goal is to ensure that our streets aren’t flooded with tens of thousands more cars before we can stand up new rules to govern the marketplace. The principles that drive us are simple: Protect workers. This industry is evolving so rapidly, with the number of vehicles skyrocketing even as the pool of New Yorkers who can afford to pay $10 or $20 to take a car trip is far more limited. There’s a point at which more and more drivers will find themselves fighting over the same group of riders — something we see already with 72% of pick-ups made by high-growth companies like Uber taking place in the heavily congested Manhattan core. According to Business Insider Uber responded with: When your proposal to cap Uber was introduced, your administration said it was about congestion. The op-ed you wrote in the New York Daily News this weekend was about everything but congestion. If you have new concerns, we want to discuss them, face-to-face, and invite you to do so in a live-streamed conversation so all New Yorkers can watch. As cities in Alabama (with the exception of Mobile) continue to fight Uber and the Legislature continues to remain deadlocked in getting a bill passed I can’t help but wonder if they realize they too are taking part in the same “kind of corrupt shortsighted politics that is destroying innovation,” that Kutcher is talking about.
Jeb Bush rides Uber to San Francisco startup meeting
Presidential contender Jeb Bush used the ride-sharing service Uber to arrive Thursday at a startup where he was expected to talk up the benefits of small business and entrepreneurship as part of a fundraising swing through the San Francisco Bay Area. Bush pulled up at Thumbtack headquarters in the front seat of a black Toyota Camry being driven for Uber. Uber connects travelers with various cars through its smartphone app. Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees, so they aren’t eligible for overtime pay, unemployment insurance or workers’ compensation. Bush’s potential rival, Hillary Clinton, has promised to crack down on companies that wrongly classify workers as contractors. She has praised the “gig economy” for creating exciting opportunities but has also said it is raising hard questions about workplace protections. Bush’s visit to San Francisco, a Democratic stronghold and home to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, comes as a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows that negative views of the former Florida governor have ticked up. Forty-four percent say they have an unfavorable view, up from 36 percent in April. Among Republicans, 53 percent have a favorable view and 27 percent have an unfavorable view of Bush. Bush and supporting super PACs have raised a combined $114 million for the 2016 presidential campaign, outraising other candidates in the jam-packed GOP field. Donald Trump recently has emerged as a front-runner in the GOP field, drawing attention and criticism for his tough talk on illegal immigration. San Francisco has been a focal point of the immigration debate following the arrest of Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, a Mexican who had been deported five times and now is charged with killing a woman while she walked on a pier with her father. Bush has been among the GOP candidates who have criticized Trump’s harsh comments claiming Mexico is sending its criminals to the United States. After visiting Thumbtack, Bush is scheduled to attend a fundraising luncheon in Silicon Valley. There also was a $2,700-per-person reception at a home in San Francisco on Wednesday night. Thumbtack was started by CEO Marco Zappacosta and President Jonathan Swanson. They served as aides to economic advisers in the White House administration of Jeb’s older brother, George W. Bush. Thumbtack aims to link people with service providers without the usual back and forth of phone calls or emails. Customers go online to specify what they want — for example, a portrait photographer for a specific date — and the company returns up to five names of providers that fit the bill, with bid prices attached. The company is named after the longtime practice of people who advertise their services via a notice tacked to a bulletin board. Thumbtack spokeswoman Michele Husak said the visit is not an endorsement of Bush’s candidacy. “Any politician who reaches out to us,” she said, “we’re happy to welcome them.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Despite delay, Mobile still looks like it will lead the way with Uber
Mobile City Council was suppose to take up a measure on Tuesday aimed at allowing ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to be fully operational within its city limits. The vote, however, was pushed back a week. Sources tell Alabama Today, though, that the delay shouldn’t be seen as a major setback because most council members are expected to support the most recent proposals. The proposed changes to the city’s ordinances likely will be seen as favorable to both ride-sharing operations and traditional taxi cabs. It’s a model intended to keeping the playing field level by easing some restrictions on cab companies while allowing ride-sharing companies to come in while still maintaining high standards for riders in both operations. It’s a big turning point for Alabama. A move by Mobile to allow such services puts it leaps and bounds ahead of cities still holding out and fighting on behalf of a dated system reling only on the cab industry, such as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. There have been growing pains in the regulatory side since Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile welcomed Uber to town in June, but again the city’s efforts are commendable. In a news release at the time, Uber stated, “We want to thank Mayor Stimpson for his leadership and vision in bringing innovative transportation options to Mobile. Uber couldn’t be more honored to connect Southern Alabama residents and visitors with safe, reliable and affordable rides.” Al.Com later reported that city council members took issue with the legality of Uber operating, a point that prompted Colby Cooper, the mayor’s chief of staff, to email council members, “The reality is we are dealing with a scenario where technology is outpacing regulations, and is creating a lot of gray areas for municipalities across the country.” All signs point to a city council responsive to its residents’ needs and opening the door for business. Here’s hoping others follow suit. We’ll keep you posted. (Looking back, check out Will Lochamy‘s guest editorial highlighting some of the benefits of Uber and busting some of the common myths here.)
Business roundup: headlines from across the state
Here’s a roundup of some of the top business headlines from across the stat you might have missed this weekend: AL.com: Uber cars on Mobile streets, but not yet legal You could say Charles McCann is the prototypical Uber driver: He has a day job managing a storage facility and gives rides in his spare time. Since the company began operating in Mobile recently, McCann, 68, has raked in about $391 during more than 30 trips. And he doesn’t want his new line of work to disappear. A committee of the Mobile City Council will examine next week an amendment that could allow driver’s like McCann, who work for so-called “transportation network companies,” to operate legally in Mobile. But in the meantime, there’s little certainty about where Uber drivers fall in existing law. “I don’t mind doing whatever they want us to do, really,” McCann said Friday from the driver seat of his beige-colored Buick LaCrosse. “I would hate for them to throw us out now because I’ve (started) going.” Uber representatives say communities simply need to catch up with innovation, and some existing transportation companies — shuttle services, taxis and limousines — believe they’re both one and the same. Councilmembers will begin parsing the difference at the public safety committee meeting, which was moved one week earlier than planned, on June 23 at 3 p.m. But the Uber cars remain unmarked and roaming city streets. That fact has already irritated some nerves. On its website, the company said Friday that it will make all Uber rides free “for the short term” to demonstrate its willingness to create new rules in Mobile. An amendment to city law, creating a distinction for companies like Uber and Lyft, which operate primarily through smartphone apps, was introduced this week. During a June 11 press conference, Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the law he sponsored with Councilman Levon Manzie would allow Uber to operate “in a manner that is safe, convenient and best serves the citizens of our city.” Peace offerings aside, some council members feel the company has already chosen to skirt municipal law. An email exchange revealed a rift between the mayor’s office and some council members concerning Uber’s operations without council approval. The mayor’s office has said that the company is operating pending approval of the ordinance changes, a model that’s been done in several cities before. And if the law doesn’t pass, they’ll consider regulating them like all other vehicles for hire. An attorney representing Mobile Bay Transportation Company has called into question the practice, sending a sternly-worded letter to the City Council and its attorney; the mayor, police chief and city attorney. In the letter provided to AL.com, attorney Jarrod White said the company owned by state Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, could “immediately go to court and obtain a temporary restraining order against Uber and its drivers” putting a stop to their operation. “However, we see litigation as a last resort and are not going to take such action at this time.” Negotiating elsewhere If past examples are any indication for what the debate could be like, then the outcome could go one way or the other. Uber says it operates in more than 300 cities around the world. There have been some successful regional examples in cities like New Orleans, Chattanooga, Tenn. and Pensacola, Fla. But for every one of those, there are some not-so-positive cases like the outcomes in Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Birmingham. As the chair of the transportation and communications committee, Councilwoman Kim Rafferty led negotiations with Uber in Birmingham. They were careful, she said in a recent interview, about altering their code as so much about the digital ride-hailing business model is still unknown. “We decided instead of saying yes or no and starting to modify our code…what we could do is define them as a transportation company and define their drivers as taxis drivers,” Rafferty said. Representatives for both Uber and Lyft, she said, would later say the law was too “antiquated” and “cumbersome” for them to operate in Alabama’s largest city. That was almost one year ago. “We invited them in. They said no,” Rafferty said. “We passed the definitions; never heard from them again.” Mobile wants to be the exception, the mayor has said, finding a way to let them in. Many Mobile council members, too, have expressed a willingness to keep an open mind and consider all the facts. Drivers in Mobile Kaitlin Durkosh, an Uber spokesperson, said the company has “dozens of local drivers partnering” with it, but declined to give a precise number. In an email, Durkosh said she could not divulge the number of rides completed in Mobile either. Durkosh said: “…what I can tell you is that we’ve seen an overwhelmingly positive response from residents and visitors of Mobile.” At least one of those drivers is McCann, who was trolling for rides early Friday. Many of his trips so far have been around downtown Mobile; but also trips to the airport and one woman who needed a ride to the courthouse after her car gave out earlier Friday morning. McCann said he signed up to be a driver months ago, but wasn’t sure of the city’s prospects. “I finally gave up. I figured they’ll never get in Mobile, either the cab lobby is too tough or Mobile doesn’t want them,” McCann said. He forget about them, until about two weeks ago when he got a call from Uber. McCann said they told him they were close to a launch and asked if he was ready to drive. “And I did it,” he said, “and I’ve never met any of them. I just get with them on email.” Update: This story was updated June 19, 2015 at 8:09 p.m. to include information that Uber will give free rides temporarily. Alabama Newscenter: Economic development alliance in East Alabama sees potential along I-20 For years, economic development partnerships have been forming along regional “corridors” in the state. They include the I-85 Corridor Alliance, the Coastal Alabama Partnership in
Huntsville moves closer allowing Uber, Lyft
Huntsville is moving closer to allowing companies such as Uber and Lyft to do business in the city after an ordinance to amend a chapter in vehicles for hire was introduced to city council. Multiple news outlets report the ordinance was introduced at a meeting Thursday. The proposed changes to the city’s vehicle for hire ordinance come after Mayor Tommy Battle asked the city’s public transit, legal and police departments to look at regulations transportation network companies face entering the Huntsville market. A spokesman said the proposed changes will make it easier for companies to meet licensing and permitting requirements. That includes a $5,000 per year license instead of a per vehicle license, eliminating the previously required chauffeur’s license and allowing companies to conduct their own background checks and vehicle inspections. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Quick look: 5 hot topics state and national from budget to Baltimore
Short thoughts on current hot topics: State: Statehouse: This week is sure to be … colorful. From tax increases on the calendar to the gaming prospects being kicked around there’s a lot to debate, I’m sure everyone has a strong opinion about what we should or shouldn’t do to get through this Session and budget crisis but let’s hope we can fare better than our neighbors in Florida and get through it without a total meltdown . I don’t envy lawmakers who will be hearing from all sides that the solutions being offered are all bad and unworkable. Our elected officials aren’t sent to Montgomery to designate a state bee or cake or other such trivial matters (yes, I saw the Queen Bee designation is back on the calendar this week), they’re sent there to make tough decisions like the ones we’re seeing now. Here’s hoping they weigh their options and take the one that makes the most sense for the long-term health of the state and its budget. Poarch Creek vs. Free-Market: The Poarch Band of Creek Indians offered to give the state $250 million toward the deficit to not expand gaming to anyone but them. Rarely am I left speechless at a political proposal, but this one just strikes me as so unconventional I can’t write about it without using terms like anti-free market or bribe, or without pointing out the cliched, but appropriate, objection to the government picking winners and losers. The offer was countered by a proposal for four new casinos lacks the same long-term revenue projections or the job creation and is frankly just as far from free-market as one can get. Can anyone not personally benefiting actually believe this is a good idea? We’ll soon see. Uber and other ridesharing: I could get another cup of coffee and pontificate all day on all the reasons we need a state bill in support of ride sharing, because we do. Instead, I urge you to read our guest op-ed by radio host Will Lochamy on the subject. Need an incentive to click through? There’s a photo of a sleeping member you won’t want to miss included in the post. National: On the shooting in Texas: There was an attack in Texas last night that was much more than it seems it wasn’t just an attack at an art show it was an attack on the First Amendment. Every mainstream media report that emphasized the theme of the event in Texas as anti-Muslem attack got it wrong. The violence shown in Texas was anti-free speech and in our country free speech, however controversial, is protected. The best part of the U.S. Constitution is that it guarantees certain freedoms and secures essential rights regardless of public opinion. So long as using your rights doesn’t deprive others of theirs, I can hate and despise your words and/or actions but I will defend your ability to exercise them. You can expect this event to stir up a lot of discussion but let’s hope the underlying issue doesn’t get lost in the debate. On Baltimore: The lines of people standing in front of law enforcement, protecting them was as powerful as any image I witnessed during the recent riots as were the many photos of those cleaning up or simply peacefully protesting. It gave me hope for Baltimore which is now starting to see quiet as curfews have been lifted and the worst appears to be over in terms of the riots and violence. It doesn’t take much to see that we are at a crossroads in our nation, continue to handle racial tensions crisis-by-crisis or confront the underlying animosity and distrust that continues to spill in the streets of our most vulnerable communities between the protests and tragedy. That is the only way we stop and prevent it. We must seize the time now when the streets are not burning to identify where they could be next and calm the fear, address the imbalance of justice and prevent violent protests. Community leaders regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or the other labels that separate us need reach across the lines that divide to peacefully lead conversations. I’ve heard a lot of talk about these conversations lately but they need to happen not only on the editorial pages and on network television but in local churches and community centers in the places that matter. Photo Credit: Jim Watson, AFP Getty Images
Will Lochamy: My Uber App won’t work. Can I get a Lyft, Alabama?
We have a transportation problem, right? I think we can all agree on that. Good news … there is a solution. In fact, Rep. Jack Williams has proposed House Bill 509 to solve it. I went to Montgomery to support it. Here are some thoughts; The Birmingham (metro) area is blossoming in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. It makes me proud. From what I’ve read, it makes you proud too. We should be proud. Regions Field, award-winning restaurants and breweries, The Civil Rights Museum, Railroad Park, Yellowhammer Creative, Birmingham Mountain Radio, and our newly found sense of community are just some of the very legitimate reasons for us all to be proud. We are not the only ones taking notice. National articles are popping up all the time that name us, formerly known as “Bombingham,” as one of the “best” in many different categories. There’s no denying that we are now a proud, progressive, educated, and scene-influencing town. So why do we continue to be the “last” in so many things? I might have found out when I went to our Statehouse this week. At one time (somewhat recently), I was the GM of the largest pub in Birmingham. It was my responsibility, along with every single employee, to make sure customers were not over served or ever behind the wheel intoxicated. It’s all spelled out in the Dram Shop Act (feel free to read about it here: Dram Shop Act). This was and always will be a nearly impossible task. Believe me, we tried hard. We took all of the obvious precautions, but in the end, it came down to making sure people didn’t drive. We placed Yellow Cab’s number all over the walls and called the number for them, time after time. Too many times, they wouldn’t wait or the cab just simply wouldn’t show. If we were lucky, we could persuade them to wait and take them home in our personal vehicles. It was a major inconvenience, but far better than the alternative. Now out of that industry, my new job has me traveling. While working in San Francisco a couple of years ago, a fellow employee advised me to download the Uber app. Out of the gate, I was blown away. This was Uber Black I was using. It’s the fancy Uber service that you often hear about as being top notch. It is. An SUV, town car, or limo generally shows up depending on your group size and/or preference. As I began working in Charlotte, I started using Uber X. This is the “boogie man under the bed” service they offer. The one where drivers use their own vehicle. That last sentence leads to misconceptions. A lot of them. People take this to mean any average Joe can open an app, jump in their car, and find people who need rides. This is far from the truth. Uber is the boss, the driver is the employee. They use their own vehicle, while insured by Uber and only after passing a background check. Every Uber ride I’ve been on has been prompt and courteous, the driver has had a clean vehicle, and I’ve felt safe each time. If any of these things fall short, I can give the driver a negative rating on the app. If I happen to be a jerk (which I’m not), the driver can give me a negative rating. Too many negative ratings for them, they’re no longer a driver. Too many for me, they won’t pick me up. I like that. I like accountability. So why don’t we have Uber? The public screams for it. Every other state in the South has it. There are more than a million Uber rides per day, but we can’t get one in our great state? M.A.D.D. has come out in support and the stats clearly show that DUI deaths drop in states that have ride sharing, but it’s not for us? Why in the world would we oppose what consumers rave about? The opposition (Yellow Cab and head of the Birmingham Transportation and Communications Committee, Kim Rafferty) cries fowl on multiple points. Let’s quickly break down a couple. Point 1. Safety. The word “rape” was thrown around more times than I can count while the state house debated HB 509. “Uber drivers are raping women,” was the narrative. The honorable state Rep. Louise Alexander (District 56) repeated that she “didn’t want to be raped by a Google driver.” Rebuttal 1. This argument is bunk. (So is the fact that someone that doesn’t know the difference in “Uber” and “Google” is running our state.) The stories of Uber Drivers being arrested for assault or rape are unacceptable. There is no excuse for this. At the same time, we need to look at the numbers. In 2014, as Uber was just blossoming, there were more than 140 million Uber rides. The reports of arrests are just a handful. With a quick Google search, you can find page after page of Yellow Cab drivers arrested for rape, assault, and even murder. This isn’t Yellow Cab’s or Uber’s fault. It’s a societal issue. You can just as easily find staggering numbers of arrests for teachers, Sunday school teachers, and government employees. This argument is flawed and can’t be held against Uber. Rebuttal 1b. This argument is really bunk. Think of the lives lost to drunken driving. Think of the lives that could be saved be people having multiple, reliable options for rides. This is the biggest point of this debate. Period. Point 2. This should be decided by municipalities. The one municipality in question is Birmingham. Its transportation regulations are proposed by Kim Rafferty. The issue here is that LW Associates LLC is the consulting firm for Kim Rafferty. The owner of LW Associates, Lou Willie IV, is the son of Lou Willie III who represents several cab companies. Look away folks … there’s nothing to see here.* Rebuttal 2. This is too big for
Uber, Lyft ridesharing in Alabama gets mixed reaction from lawmakers
Lawmakers can’t agree whether bringing an app-based ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft to Alabama is a good thing. Just this week, House lawmakers declined to vote on legislation by Rep. Jack Williams that would have forced the companies to operate under greater state supervision. Legislators’ responses to the bill were mixed, according to reporters at the hearing, ranging from concerns over sexual assaults of passengers to the low proposed registration fee. That may not be surprising, since the public is reporting mixed views on ridesharing. Uber and Lyft are mobile-app based ridesharing networks. In a nutshell, they provide passengers who need a ride with a driver able to provide it. Passengers can use a smartphone to schedule a ride alone or to arrange to share with several strangers headed the same way. Riders in major cities worldwide are already using the service. Though both companies are privately-owned and not required to issue financial projections, Uber is projected to earn upward of $10B in 2015; Lyft is expected to generate $1B in revenue. Uber has already made several attempts to break into Alabama markets: Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Birmingham and Auburn. Last year, Uber launched a social media campaign to rally supporters in Birmingham to the idea and block the city’s attempt to add regulations to their model. Hundreds of tweets using the hashtag #BirminghamNeedsUber showed overall support from would-be passengers. Birmingham resident Amanda Watkins tweeted “Friends in Alabama: If you want to have a good time in Birmingham and a safe ride home, then support @Uber! #BirminghamNeedsUber” In Wednesday’s hearing, Hoover City Council member John Lyda reportedly said that he was in favor of bring the model to the state, saying it would bring “choice and competition” to his residents. Former driver Harry Poole said, “When I was in Auburn, everybody loved Uber,” and that parents would often tell students to call Uber rather than a traditional taxi service. But some have voiced concern over Uber’s tiered approach to service. In an interview, Birmingham City Council president Johnathan Austin said that cheaper UberX version was problematic because of lower driver requirements and training: “We want Uber but With UberX you just don’t know because it’s a different model. So you could have a driver who might not have been trained, you could have a driver who does not know the city.” The company maintains that its insurance and training requirements help to ensure passenger safety. “All uberX rides are insured up to $1M per incident–twice what is required of taxicabs in Birmingham,” Uber officials said in that same story. “Drivers must pass rigorous background checks at the county, state and federal level before they are ever allowed access to the technology.” Despite the company’s assurances, there have been several reports alleging driver misconduct in Alabama and nationwide. The company’s launch in Tuscaloosa quickly devolved into a fight with city officials over ordinances that govern taxi services. Soon after that, an Uber driver was caught in an undercover sting and charged with ordinance violations along with several drug and alcohol offences. Uber and Lyft have also been the subject of lawsuits by passengers, with allegations including negligent driving, assault, and sexual assault. In fact, Birmingham City Councilor Kim Rafferty cited concerns over passenger safety in a leaked email exchange with Mayor Walt Maddox. In her email, Rafferty suggested the formation of an ad-hoc committee to work with ridesharing companies in and out of the state on a model that meets regulatory and safety concerns. “Change in the on-demand for hire transportation industry is coming,” she said. “We need to be not just prepared but proactive.” No vote from lawmakers on Wednesday could mean that – for good or ill – change is unlikely to come to Alabama in this legislative session. In the interim, Uber has taken another approach to attracting local fans. The Uber in Alabama Twitter accounted tweeted on Friday, “Though regulations prevent us from connecting you with rides in #Birmingham, we can still connect you with giving” with a link to have an Uber driver pick up donations and drop them off at a Goodwill center in Birmingham.
ICYMI: This week at the Statehouse
What happened at the statehouse this week? Glad you asked! Here are a few things you might have missed from week eight of the 2015 legislative session. •Sen. Cam Ward’s proposal to reform Alabama prisons is inching closer to the finish line. •Victims of domestic violence would have stronger protection under House Bill 320. The legislation passed out of committee this week. •A House panel on commerce considered a bill to add term limits, pay caps, and new members to the Birmingham Water Works Board. •Still no answer on whether ride share services like Uber and Lyft will be coming to Alabama. •Alabama finally has an official crustacean, thanks to legislation passed in the House on Thursday. That was the only bill to come out of the House before lawmakers adjourned for the weekend. Still no word on whether the queen honey bee will become Alabama’s official agricultural insect.
