First Macklemore, now the Seahawks.
One day after Macklemore, the world-famous rapper and Seattle native, used his social media accounts to voice opposition against proposed regulations that could limit the number of UberX, Lyft and Sidecar drivers in Seattle to 300, it looks like some Seahawks wide receivers feel the same way.
Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin, the team’s top two receivers, both tweeted this morning to encourage people to sign a petition in favor of allowing services like UberX to operate without a driver limit Seattle.
Don’t let @SeattleCouncil limit your freedom of choice. Sign here to help #SAVEuberXsea https://t.co/N3cUaMYePe #oneteam
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) February 26, 2014
Don’t let @SeattleCouncil limit your freedom of choice. Sign here to help #SAVEuberXsea https://t.co/jxWzxNgp7Z #oneteam
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) February 26, 2014
Both players used the same text in their tweets, which makes one question the authenticity of their actual thoughts on this issue.
Even more suspicious is the fact that another receiver, Sidney Rice, tweeted the exact same thing Wednesday morning. However, since Rice is expected to be cut from the Seahawks and will likely sign with another team in a new city, it’s a little odd that he cares so much about UberX staying in Seattle.
Don’t let @SeattleCouncil limit your freedom of choice. Sign here to help #SAVEuberXsea https://t.co/2o7AGEpijs #oneteam
— Sidney Rice (@sidneyrice) February 26, 2014
An Uber spokesperson tells us that “we did not pay for anything” in regard to today’s tweets. On Tuesday, the company said the same about Macklemore’s tweet and Facebook post.
The three Seahawks players combined have about 500,000 Twitter followers. Macklemore, meanwhile, has 2.23 million followers on Twitter, and another 4.11 million likes on his Facebook page.
For what it’s worth, Allen Stone, another famous musician from Seattle, also shared his support for UberX this morning:
Seattle friends! Help support @Uber in our great city. Please visit: https://t.co/klZqwuwyHw #SAVEuberXsea pic.twitter.com/Q78Nhb4eIq
— Allen Stone (@allen_stone) February 26, 2014
A debate has been raging in the city in recent weeks over whether the new breed of companies like UberX and Lyft — which allow customers to request a ride via a smartphone and automatically pay for fares without using cash — should be able to operate in the city.
Many, including those in the tech industry, argue that these companies offer a more innovative and convenient alternative to traditional taxi cabs, and that the city should not regulate them. Others, especially those in the taxi and for-hire industry, say that the new services should be regulated or curtailed, and that they should not get a free pass on regulations simply because they utilize new methods for attracting riders.
We’ll be at City Hall on Thursday to find out how the committee votes. See all of our coverage on this issue here.