PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Uber is turning up the heat on Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker with another video ad campaign, aimed at defeating her proposal for a dollar-a-ride tax on rideshares.
An Uber spokesperson said the 15- and 30-second ads are running on TV news shows and social media. The video ads are written as letters to Parker, but the message is aimed at City Council: “Vote no on the rideshare tax.”
The spokesperson would not say how much the campaign is costing the company, but acknowledged that Uber has already spent six figures trying to defeat the tax. It’s also spent about $50,000 lobbying the mayor and City Council directly, according to its latest report to the Board of Ethics.
The mayor has said the tax would raise $48 million to plug a structural deficit in the school district budget and avoid program and staff cuts.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson said members remain undecided as budget talks continue.
“We’ll come up with a final answer on where we’re at on that tax or any other proposals regarding funding our children who attend our public school system,” he said.
Parker has shown a willingness to negotiate, agreeing earlier this week to reduce the hotel tax increase she was seeking to pay for homeless services. (The new proposal is for a 0.6% hotel tax increase, plus a 6% tax increase on short-term rentals like Airbnb.)
Uber proposed a counteroffer, according to sources with knowledge of the proposal: an increase in the 1.4% tax it currently pays to operate in the city. Uber wouldn’t say how much of an increase but described it as “substantial.” Sources said the mayor turned it down.
The mayor’s office declined to comment.
Mayor says tax would raise $48 million to plug school district’s structural deficit
Mayor says tax would raise $48 million to plug school district’s structural deficit
