Local cab drivers gathered in front of the Boston's City Hall to attend a public hearing to discuss the regulation of ride-sharing services like LYFT and Uber.

"Why are Uber and LYFT allowed to come into a commonwealth or a city and defy regulations and rules?" says Donna Blythe-Shaw, an officer of the Boston Taxi Drivers Association. She was one of the many protesters who rallied outside of the Boston City Hall Plaza against the regulation of the said companies.

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Chando Souffrant, a cab driver, attests to how it has been difficult to make ends meet and pay the monthly bills to support his family. He adds that there has been a $20,000 decline in his income this year compared to that last year. This is made even worse by the hundreds of dollars he spends every month for a medallion, which is required by taxi drivers but not Uber and LYFT drivers.

These predicaments seem to get the support of the city's local police. Sgt. Tom Lema from the Boston Police Hackney Division admits that he finds the system of Uber very confusing. He further adds that their inability to identify utility and transport vehicles coming in and out of the city is one major problem they are currently facing. They also find it troubling that unidentified public vehicles are also able to bring unknown and unnamed people in the area.

A spokesperson from Uber, Taylor Bennett, on the other hand, claims that the company he represents does not defy regulations but merely welcome the need for new things and constant changes in the public transport industry.

"What we're seeing across the country, in dozens of municipalities, cities, and states, recognize that ride-sharing is the new part of the transportation ecosystem," says Bennett. He hints that the issue on medallion taxicabs is a matter of blocking competition and not really a regulation concern.

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