WHY YOU SHOULDN'T PROTEST UBER OKAY

Some thoughts on why this isn't the battle we should be fighting:

People are upset due to the fact Uber disregarded the Taxi Strike in response to Trump's Executive Order on immigration. Some points to keep in mind:

The Taxi Strike at JFK was scheduled for exactly one hour- no pickups between 6-7 from JFK.

It was initiated by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a non-profit union based in New York.

Apparently #DeleteUber originated after a tweet that was posted the day of the strike in which Uber stated they lifted surge pricing. This tweet was posted a half hour after the scheduled strike, but was still interpreted as Uber being opportunistic and unsympathetic.

The NYTWA has promoted the criticism of Uber and even has created a #NoBanNoWall Protest event... which is to take place at Uber's headquarter's in NYC. THIS can ALSO be construed as "opportunistic" in a business sense. Of course a taxi workers union would want consumers to utilize taxis instead of Uber services; the less people that use Uber results in an increased demand for taxis.

I recognize that there is a somewhat stronger argument for the interpreted opportunism of Uber, in this instance, due to a lack of moral foundation for Uber and that it's CEO is a "Trump Advisor" (I would like to point out that ELON MUSK OF TESLA SERVES ON THE SAME FORUM AS KALANICK OF UBER OK, it is the Strategic and Policy Forum). However, Uber HAS created a $3 million fund for workers who have been effected by the immigration ban. It also has donated time and service locally which I will expand on in a following paragraph.

First, however, I think it is also important to recognize those of us who deleted Uber and have NOT started to utilize taxis but instead are using Lyft. Lyft has been compared in a favorable light to Uber following #DeleteUber, especially after it donated 1 million dollars to the ACLU. BUT FUN FACT: CARL ICAHN OWNS A HUGE SHARE OF LYFT AND HAS INVESTED $100 MILLION IN LYFT. JOHN CHRISTODORO OF ICAHN CAPITAL SERVES ON LYFT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ICAHN HAS BEEN A TRUMP SUPPORTER FROM THE BEGINNING AND TRUMP ORIGINALLY MENTIONED HIM AS THE POTENTIAL TREASURY SECRETARY. "I'd love to bring my friend Carl Icahn" he said. GUYS he said "my friend'.

Whew, okay, so now that's off my chest. But wait, so maybe possibly the NYTWA is also being opportunistic and yeah Lyft has ties to Trump too... but does that really affect the existing critique of Uber's lack of solidarity and sympathy? Maybe not. But I'd like to deliver this friendly reminder to all of the Pittsburgher's that might be skeptical of Uber's social responsibility:

Uber has donated $10,000 to the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh to cover free rides to the shelter for women.

During the water boiling advisory these past couple days, Uber offered free rides to water distribution centers for Pittsburgh residents.

Uber has created countless jobs in Pittsburgh and has given this city the opportunity to increase its standing as an area of innovation and impressive nascent technology.

It is right to be angry and it is right to voice your opinion and it is right to demand change. Sometimes there can be a "more right" way of doing so, maybe. Sometimes there is a better outlet, a better mode, a better way. It is my opinion that deleting Uber and protesting Uber services and taking time to go to its headquarters and protest is not the most right, the most effective, way of battling the immigration ban created by President Trump.

Pittsburgh has numerous organizations that are working towards the betterment of the lives of immigrants and refugees. Your congresspeople need to hear your voice, or see your signature on a letter. Pittsburgh's City Council has just passed new bills that seeks to create a more welcoming city for immigrants; research the proposals and make critiques in order for Pittsburgh to become the best city it can be.

Deleting Uber deletes jobs and income and stability for many members of Pittsburgh. Before protesting, I urge you to think of the reasons as to why you should protest, the main goals, and if there are better ways to achieve such goals. sources b/c I should: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/02/01/City-Council-Dan-Gilman-Pittsburgh-immigration-laws-safeguard-refugees/stories/201702010105
https://twitter.com/cbspittsburgh/status/826869830196293632
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/19/investing/donald-trump-carl-icahn-treasury-secretary/index.html
http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2017/01/29/24833147/uber-users-delete-app-in-wake-of-muslimban-protests-while-lyft-donates-1m-to-the-aclu
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/12/14/ceos-tesla-uber-join-trumps-business-adviser-team/95416356/
http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/29/14431898/uber-kalanick-trump-immigration-ban-drivers-delete
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/business/delete-uber.html?_r=0
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/boycotting-uber-is-helping-trump-adviser-carl-icahn/ar-AAmqCrN
http://jalopnik.com/new-york-taxi-workers-alliance-halting-jfk-airport-pick-1791737697
http://labornotes.org/blogs/2017/01/new-york-taxi-workers-strike-back-against-muslim-ban
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2017/01/24/Uber-donates-free-rides-to-Women-s-Center-and-Shelter-of-Greater-Pittsburgh/stories/201701240166