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Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said that, while the cost of

July 31, 2017 by Kenneth Newton

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said that, while the cost of living and the cost of living in New York City are currently very high—around $6,000 per year—city residents, taxi drivers and riders are simply not getting the same level of service, access to a higher level of income and health care.

"We've just got to be able to be in the driver's seat in the car, and not be on the street and not be in the middle of the street and not be distracted by people, with people who are being harassed," Kalanick said.

New York City Council member Joe Crowley said, "That's just bad luck in my book, that's why I'm so concerned about this."

New York City has taken a hard line against Uber. Last year, Uber shut down its fleet of ridesharing services in the city after complaints from passengers about the company's drivers violating safety rules and safety protocols.

But the state's Department of Transportation told Uber to stop operating in its New York City neighborhood, which includes the Borough of Queens and East Liberty.

"As of today, Uber has not taken off from New York City," said state Rep. Steve Rosenthal of Brooklyn, who also represents the Queens District of New York, a district that included the borough of Brooklyn. "As we stand right here, it's a complete disgrace to our city and to all of our citizens. I'm very concerned, I'm extremely concerned about this situation, it's a complete disgrace to our region, because for years, drivers have been able to make the most of the state's tax revenue and are able to do so without hurting New York City. It's just, it's just so unfair," he said.