Council speaker says 'sexism' behind de Blasio Uber announcement

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is taking exception to the way Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a deal with Uber earlier this week.

According to Mark-Viverito, de Blasio is not behind the deal-making, rather the city council is. 

"This council decides what bills will be discussed," says Mark-Viverito.  "No one else leads that discussion. No one else influences that discussion."

De Blasio was initially in favor of stopping Uber from increasing the number of vehicles it operates in New York City, but caved in and allowed Uber to operate while a study on the impact Uber has on traffic is done.

Uber has opposed any cap, and the company and City Hall had traded increasing nasty barbs over the past week.

"The cap is on the table as an option and will continue to be on the table as an option," said de Blasio.

But Mark-Viverito took issue with the statements made by the mayor.

“What I’m saying is, that the framework of me as a woman in this context, that I can be influenced or that others are leading the charge in this conversation as sexist," said Mark-Viverito.