Driving an Uber car saved my life — don’t take it away

Uber saved my life — and now they want to take that opportunity away from so many others.

Millions of people in the city need jobs, need income, and Uber is providing a good platform where they can make decent money and provide for their family.

I believe that the big money behind the taxicab industry and limousine and car services are driving the push to cap new licenses.

They’re friendly with the politicians. They help each other. That takes precedence over the benefit of the public.

There’s enough business out there for everybody.

I’ll be sitting sometimes, and I see people hailing cabs for at least 25 minutes, and they give up. They begin walking away.

The yellow cabs cannot cover the demand for service. We’re doing something to alleviate that.

Why do we have to be penalized for providing a good service? We provide a service that is liked by the whole community in Manhattan and all the boroughs. It’s very safe.

The people want it but the people in power won’t allow it. The TLC is very powerful. There are companies with hundreds of cars.

They have enough money to influence politicians rather than see the public’s needs in general.

Moises Abrego at Tuesday’s rally at City Hall.James Messerschmidt

It’s not our fault that medallion prices are inflated to over a million dollars.

I read articles about rich people who own 300 medallions who are hurting now. Well, they’re still rich. We are poor.

And we need this to support ourselves and our families.

A year and a half ago, I lost my job. I tried selling insurance, but I needed steady income to pay my mortgage.

Last year one of my friends told me about Uber, and I jumped into it.

When I started doing this, I worked in New Jersey, but I eventually made the switch to the city. I was making $800 a week in Jersey, and up to $2,000 in NYC.

When I didn’t have a job, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t afford to make payments on my house, and they were foreclosing on my house.

With the money I’m making from Uber, I can prove that I’m making a steady income.

There are many others out there who are struggling. Do not hinder our opportunity to get those jobs.

Uber is providing a good means for people to make a decent living and support their families.

It’s a free-market economy. Why not embrace technology? Why push it aside?

Don’t stop Uber. Don’t take it away from us.

Moises Abrego, 61, a father of two, has been with Uber for the last five months. He lives in South Ozone Park, Queens, with his wife.

Filed under 6/30/15

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