message via facebook from someone at chicago rickshaw

Dear Chicago Rickshaw Riders Past and Present,This is Rob Tipton, owner of Chicago Rickshaw. We are facing quite the problem that will
bankrupt the business and entire pedicab industry in Chicago. The City
& State are mandating workers compensation for all riders
(independent contractors). This has left the company with a bill of
$27,000 (as a taxicab classification) from the insurance companies. We
are lobbying to get the classification changed and/or convince the city
council to not pass this mandate for indy contractors at least until
the classification is changed. There is a tentative city council
committee hearing on the 12th or 13th, and full hearing on the 14th of
THIS WEEK - sorry the city has not even given us courteous notice.WE
NEED as many of you to attend these meetings as possible, voicing your
personal experience as a pedicabber and how much you realistically
earned (this affects how much workers comp insurance we must pay as a
company). WE ALSO NEED you to reach out to any one you know that might
be able to help out our cause, i.e. attorneys, insurance agents, city
officials, bicycle advocates, politically-connected citizens,
journalists, anyone that can make a difference in this final hour
before we potentially file for bankruptcy, police start impounding
cabs, and you have no job as a pedicabber in Chicago ever again.We will
let you know as soon as we know the time, exact date, and location of
the hearing. Bring any friends who care, potential protest signs,
anything to demonstrate your support of Chicago as a continuing
bicycle-friendly city. Thanks for everything you've done for our
company in the past 3 years.Sincerely,Rob Tipton