Ride-sharing may finally be on its way back to upstate New York, at least according to an official from a high-profile passenger service.
During a visit to Buffalo Tuesday, Uber Chief Advisor David Plouffe said he’s “eager and confident” that ride-sharing will soon come to Western New York.
Plouffe was in the region to attend a roundtable discussion with Mayor Byron Brown and other community leaders.The discussion, which was held in private, addressed strategies for growing inner city economies and creating jobs.
Last year, Lyft was briefly used in Buffalo, but insurance issues quickly put the brakes on the ride-sharing app. Uber representatives met with state lawmakers in Albany last month in an effort to pave the way for ride-sharing in upstate New York.
Plouffe, who is a former White House Senior Advisor and managed Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, also signed the City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge. The pledge aims to promote employment diversity and reduce poverty among minority groups. Mayor Brown has been promoting the pledge as an initiative aimed at making sure that all residents and business owners benefit from the city’s "rising prosperity."
