BUFFALO, N.Y. --The decision to get ride-sharing in upstate New York is much like morning traffic; stop and go.
On Tuesday, as part of its $1.7 billion budget, Erie County legislators earmarked $100,000 to Visit Buffalo Niagara. That's not sitting well with some.
"Quietly, it wasn't a general increase to Visit Buffalo Niagara, but unbenounced to us, it was for a specific purpose; to lobby Albany to bring ride-sharing to Western New York," said Legislator Patrick Burke, D-7th District
Burke said the true reason for the amendment was introduced in the 11th hour. The money will focus on an advertising campaign in the Capital Region. The funds are normally used to bring business in from Toronto.
That's money Burke said could be better spent on the opioid crisis or the public transportation system.
"If the $100,000 could guarantee that ride-sharing was coming here in an equitable way, I would say maybe its money well-spent," Burke said, "but it's just a Hail Mary pass."
Over at Liberty Cab, the company's president Bill Yuhnke said equity is the key.
"No one ever gave me any money to promote this," Yuhnke said.
Yuhnke is referring to the taxi service's own app, Curb, that connects drivers to riders across the country as well. He said someone needs to dig deeper to find out who's really benefiting from taxpayers' money.
"Uber has enough money to buy the county," Yuhnke said. "So, I don't know what they needed $100,000 for."
Both men agree it's not about giving the red light on ride-sharing. It's about driving the service here, the right way.
"We need to bring Visit Buffalo Niagara to the legislature and keep on top of them to see how this money is being spent," Burke said.