The future of operations such as Uber, Lyft and Door Dash in California, along with the livelihoods of many citizens, hinge with Proposition 22 on the Nov. 3 ballot. The ride-sharing and delivery outfits have spent in excess of $200 million (and climbing) in the highest-stake ballot measure in California history. Last week Uber and Lyft paid $85,000 to a NAACP leader who backs the measure.
The most recent survey of likely voters out of UC Berkeley have 46 percent voting for, with 42 percent voting against and 12 percent undecided.
Last Thursday a state appeals court upheld a ruling of a lower court, indicating in a 74-page report the strong likelihood that Uber and Lyft misclassified drivers as contractors rather than employees. That ruling will be on hold for 60 days while Uber/Lyft consider appealing to the California Supreme Court. The landscape of the ride-sharing/delivery industry has shifted dramatically in the past 12 months, Covid regulations dictate that all drivers and passengers wear face coverings and passengers sit in the back seat. Customers must self-certify with pictures with masks on the mobile app prior to being picked up. The pandemic initially resulted in an 80 percent drop in ridership, but offset by the rise of Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and Postmates. Uber also plans to add grocery delivery to its portfolio of services as the race for e-commerce escalates.