PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dennis Addison, Member of the Public and New York Taxi Alliance Member, on Driver Deactivation Issues
2:34:34
·
124 sec
Dennis Addison, a driver for 2.5 years and member of the New York Taxi Alliance, testifies about his unfair deactivation by Uber and Lyft. He describes the financial hardships caused by losing his income and the inability to use his $65,000 vehicle investment.
- Addison emphasizes the unfairness of deactivations based on passenger complaints without driver input
- He calls for an independent department to address deactivation issues
- Addison highlights the lack of driver voice in the deactivation process, describing drivers as "completely mute" in these situations
Dennis Addison
2:34:34
Sure.
2:34:35
Good morning.
2:34:35
My name is Dennis Addison.
2:34:37
Thank you so much for making this possible at the hearing.
2:34:40
I've been in this business now for 66 and a member of the New York Taxi Alliance as well.
2:34:48
2 and a half years.
2:34:49
I've been unfairly deactivated by both Uber and Lyft.
2:34:55
And weekly, I make over $1600.
2:34:59
And since Uber have de deactivated me, it was very much unfair for me and my family.
2:35:06
I have a a vehicle that I invest in, you know, over 65 $65,000 that I had to pay for that my insurance, fees, and all these different different things that I have to pay for maintaining my family.
2:35:21
It's been so difficult since then, losing my job from Uber and Lyft because of the deactivation loss of my vehicle.
2:35:31
Don't have any income coming in.
2:35:33
It has been so difficult for me and my family.
2:35:36
The deactivation is solely is really unfair to drivers like myself and the panels here.
2:35:42
It's testify the same thing.
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We would like to see if this independent department can really step in and help us because we know that it it will lift lift the burden off of us to some degree.
2:35:56
But at the same time, we can make ends meet.
2:36:00
It's not easy dealing with passengers who lie and say different things about drivers like myself and others who are working so hard.
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And all of a sudden, you become you become deactivated, or because what?
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Uber listens to these passengers to get free rides because of what they say.
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They don't even take into consideration as to drivers.
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We are completely mute.
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We have no saying, we have no comment in anything whatsoever.
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So please, if you can listen and hear what we're saying, it is greatly appreciated by most drive all of the drivers.
2:36:37
In Uber and Lyft.