Rochester’s Board of Ethics will take up Mayoral Candidate Rachel Barnhart’s complaint that the city has favored ridesharing company Uber over its competition.
Barnhart filed the complaint earlier this month after an Uber job fair co-sponsored by City Hall with help from a PR firm that employs a former aide to Mayor Lovely Warren. At the time, rival service Lyft had held job fair events with Monroe County. It’s first event with City Hall is taking place today.
Barnhart’s complaint of a possible “pay to play” arrangement is the first to be considered by the board in more than a year, since it ruled the city was not in the wrong for wanting to hire former Mayor Bill Johnson’s consulting firm for a project.
The board’s chairman says the matter will be discussed at its July 11th meeting and a decision will likely be made that day.
Warren’s office says in a statement the mayor welcomes the ethics board review and will provide any information the board wants.
Barnhart, who is running a primary against Warren for the Democratic nomination, says she’s pleased.