Resolution 140031

..Title Calling on the City of Philadelphia City Council Committee on Finance to hold hearings concerning the economic impact of the Sharing Economy and Collaborative Consumption on the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, The Sharing Economy, also known as Collaborative Consumption and the Peer Economy, is a sustainable economic system built upon the assets of private citizens; and WHEREAS, Examples of business that operate in the Sharing Economy include AirBnB, Uber, SideCar, TaskRabbit, and SkillShare; and WHEREAS, In 2010, the Sharing Economy was listed as one of TIME's "10 Ideas That Will Change the World"; and WHEREAS, In 2013, businesses that participate in the Sharing Economy are projected to generate more than $350 billion revenue in transactions; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia marketplace is currently accessed by a number of businesses that participate in the Sharing Economy, including Airbnb and Uber, and is home to SkillShare, a business that allows experts to share knowledge with individuals who seek instruction in a specific area of expertise; and WHEREAS, Across the U.S. elected officials and businesses in the Sharing Economy are working to responsibly regulate and support this growth sector; and WHEREAS, At their 2013 Annual Conference the U.S. Conference of Mayors supported a resolution outlining a commitment to "support making cities more shareable"; and WHEREAS, In 2013 the New York Attorney General subpoenaed Airbnb, a room rental service, for information on its 225,000 landlords in the state; in response, Airbnb has indicated that it would work with officials in New York and San Francisco to craft mutually-beneficial legislation; and WHEREAS, In 2013 the California Public Utilities Commission created new safety regulations that grants state licenses for smartphone-enabled ridesharing companies like Lyft, Sidecar, and Uber; and WHEREAS, As stewards of the local economy, Philadelphia City Council has the duty to investigate any potential financial and legal implications the Sharing Economy may have on the employment and economic climate of Philadelphia, as well as any licensing and tax implications associated with this new and upcoming business sector; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the City of Philadelphia City Council Committee on Finance shall hold hearings concerning the economic effects of the "Sharing Economy" on the City of Philadelphia ..End