CALIFORNIA

Uber is going to ease up on some of its driver-screening requirements in California in order to make room for people convicted of nonviolent crimes, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier today. Under Proposition 47, a California ballot measure that passed in 2014, people with low-level, nonviolent felonies for things like theft, check fraud and possession of drugs can apply to remove the felony from their record and change it to a misdemeanor.

Uber’s process has previously ruled out people who may qualify to drive under Prop. 47. Starting February 1, an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch, the company will notify disqualified drivers and let them know about the process for having their felonies reclassified as misdemeanors. Uber has also partnered with Defy Ventures, an organization that provides job readiness training to felons, to help people who don’t qualify under Prop. 47 to find jobs. Uber will continue to reject people with felony convictions for violent crimes, as well as those with DUIs or misdemeanors related to intoxication.

“California voters told us when they overwhelmingly passed Proposition 47 that people with nonviolent, low-level offenses must be given a chance to get back on their feet,” Uber Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan said in a statement. “To do our part, we can make sure people have a fair chance to earn a living with Uber. Moreover, as a technology platform, we can focus on safety before, during and after each ride in ways that are more fair and effective than relying on criminal records alone.”

This means two things. People who are trying to rebuild their lives now have an opportunity to get back on their feet, and make a good amount of money while driving for Uber. This is great news for groups of people who face systemic oppression and discrimination. Black people, in case you didn’t know, get sent to prison on drug charges at more than 10x the rate of white people, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Secondly, Uber can potentially increase the number of drivers it has on the road, though, the company told the Journal that growing its driver base is not what this is about.

http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/13/uber-to-allow-some-people-with-nonviolent-convictions-to-become-drivers/

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NEW YORK

A federal judge has ruled that New York taxi mogul Evgeny “Gene” Freidman illegally transferred more than $60 million worth of real estate into offshore trusts in a game of keep-away from ex-lender Citibank NA.

In a ruling Tuesday, Judge Carla Craig gave Citibank officials the power to go after the properties that Mr. Freidman transferred into trusts located in Belize, Nevis and the Cook Islands last spring, stating that instances of “fraud are numerous and glaring” in Mr. Freidman’s moves.

Mr. Freidman, who put some of his taxi companies into bankruptcy last year, said he transferred property into the trusts as part of estate-planning to help his children. But Citibank, which is trying to collect roughly $34 million in unpaid loans, accused Mr. Freidman of trying to keep the properties away from the bank and other creditors who are pursuing his businesses for money.

In a 33-page opinion, Judge Craig pointed out that Mr. Freidman began the process of creating the trusts last April, just one month after Citibank sued Mr. Freidman in state court over the unpaid loans.

“It is impossible to conclude that the timing of the transfers is merely coincidence,” she wrote in the opinion filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Brooklyn, N.Y.

http://goo.gl/91wST9

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BURY

TAXI drivers are to be given special training on how to spot terrorists.

Bury Council leaders want to teach cabbies how to spot suspicious activity and councillors and officers are mulling over the right approach.

Cllr David Jones, who chairs the council's licensing panel, said that, while some councils had simply issued leaflets and letters, he favours a classroom-style approach.

"That certainly is the kind of idea I would want to err towards, rather than just sending out a leaflet," said Cllr Jones.

He added: "The idea is that we make drivers aware of things like suspicious suitcases left in public areas, that kind of thing.

"One idea is that, when drivers renew their badges, they would be required to actually sit down for half an hour in a classroom-type setting and learn in front of a chalkboard."

There is also a desire to teach drivers about preventing child sexual exploitation by, for example, encouraging them to report an instance where a young, vulnerable passenger hails a cab late at night and is visibly distressed or showing signs of abuse.

However, not everyone has fully backed the idea, as critics claim it should not be up to cabbies to police the streets.

Charles Oakes is the president of the Hackney Drivers Association, which represents hundreds of black-cab drivers in Bury, Bolton and Burnley.

He said: "It is common sense that taxi drivers or anyone else would report suitcases left in bus stations and what have you, so why do they need to go on a course?

"In many ways, taxi drivers are treated by public officials as social workers and this is just another example.

"I don't see why taxi drivers have to be required to do the job of police."

Mr Oakes praised Manchester City Council's approach. Its leaders issued a booklet to the city's 6,000 drivers providing advice on a range of safeguarding issues, what action they can take and where they can report concerns.

He expressed concern that some councils had charged taxi drivers for lessons.

"Everyone wants to prevent terrorism and child sexual exploitation, but it would be unfair if Bury drivers are asked to pay for the lessons when they already face enough financial pressures as they try to earn a living," said Mr Oakes.

Cllr Jones and legal representatives of the council have discussed the issue at a meeting with taxi drivers.

The issue could be discussed at tonight’s meeting of Bury Licensing and Safety Panel, at the town hall at 7pm.

http://goo.gl/EfHAZ4

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STAFFORDSHIRE

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after two women claimed they were driven around in a taxi for up to two hours following a dispute with the driver.

Emma Carter and Ann Smallman were asked for a £70 'fouling' fee after one of them was sick in the back of a Lucky Seven taxi.

They say when they refused to pay that much they were driven around Bentilee, before eventually agreeing to hand over £30.

Staffordshire Police say they will not investigate the complaint because it is a 'civil matter'.


Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confirmed it has launched an investigation into the complaints.

Longton-based Lucky Seven's management today confirmed a customer had been sick in one of its taxis but rubbished claims that one of its cabbies would drive passengers around for up to two hours before resolving any dispute.

Emma and Ann called Lucky Seven to take them home to Bentilee after attending a function at the Moat House hotel, in Festival Park, at the weekend.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Emma has blamed her sickness on medication linked to her condition. They deny drinking in the back of the taxi.

The 28-year-old, from Bentilee, said: "I had one small glass of wine but sometimes I am sick due to the medication I take for the illness. The taxi driver asked for £70, locked all the doors and drove us around.

"I'm not going to be taking a taxi again for a good while. This has really shaken me up."

Mother-in-law Ann, aged 56, from Bentilee, said: "We were in the taxi for ages and we were unable to get out. He kept asking for £70 because he would have to clean his car.

"We've got his registration number and we've gone to the council to complain about what happened.

"Emma was a bit sick on herself rather than all over the taxi. It was because of the medication and not because of the drink."

More than 800 complaints have been lodged with the council about Stoke-on-Trent's cabbies in the past three years – with most gripes about poor attitude, behaviour and customer service.

The council operates a £35 'fouling' fee.

Lucky Seven today defended the actions of its driver.

A spokesman said: "We always try to sort things out the best we can for our customers.

"We were the first taxi company in Stoke-on-Trent to fully refund customers if they were dissatisfied with their service. This is now a civil matter.

"All our drivers are self-employed and at the end of the day they are public servants.

"If a driver is a problem we will deal with them quickly and a few weeks ago we let a driver go after an incident in Longton."

He added: "The customer was sick and they spilled drink in the back of the taxi. No taxi driver would drive around for two hours making no money."

http://goo.gl/rbS9cX