Lightfoot says Uber offered black ministers $54M to get her to 'back off' fee hike - which Uber disputes

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday shot down an alternative congestion fee floated by Uber and accused the ride-hailing giant of offering black ministers $54 million to carry the ride-hailing giant's water.

Lightfoot dropped the political bombshell at a City Hall news conference when asked about the tax plan that, Uber claims, would raise $21 million more than Lightfoot's congestion fee in part because it would apply to taxis as well as ride-hailing.

"Is this the one where they're paying off black ministers by $54 million? That one? Or is this a new one?" the mayor said.

"They offered up black ministers $54 million - a one-time deal - if they would convince the mayor to do away with any other kind of regulation. And as we walked these ministers through the realities of what's actually at stake here, I think they realized that, frankly, they'd been hoodwinked."

Pressed for proof, Lightfoot said, "I've had a number of ministers who've met with us and said, 'Uber promised us $54 million if you (persuade the mayor to) back off.' ... We'll get those names to you."

As for the congestion alternative itself, Lightfoot shot it down cold. She argued the company's plan "doesn't hold any water and, tellingly, what it doesn't do is address congestion."

Uber's director of public policy Josh Gold tweeted a response to the mayor's unsubstantiated charge.

"This is categorically false. @chicagosmayor is confusing the $54 million in revenue that one of our proposals would have raised for her own budget," Gold tweeted.

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