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Uber To Albany?

Alexander Torrenegra/Wikimedia Commons

New York state lawmakers returning to Albany in January will debate whether to allow Uber to expand into upstate cities including Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and Syracuse.

The app-based ride-hailing service is now limited to the New York City area but says there's no reason why it can't be regulated throughout the state. Rival Lyft is also looking to expand.

Uber has put together a broad coalition of supporters including local mayors, anti-drunken driving advocates and law enforcement officials who say the company could create thousands of new jobs while offering a new transportation option.

Taxi companies are fighting the expansion. They say Uber threatens the jobs of taxi dispatchers and other employees who aren't necessary for the company's Internet-based business model.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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