[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6681523,"mediaKeyId","2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48","parentId",2157788,"title","Committee authorizes investigation into unauthorized operations of Empower ride-hailing service","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",590000,"endMs",1011000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48&start=590&end=1011","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48/thumbnail_590000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6681523/Committee-authorizes-investigation-into-unauthorized-operations-of-Empower-ride-hailing-service","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681523-a934e8d117ad0ea798293f0be28e5ad0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501380&Signature=gAQipBd87QqB3OcONlM71vxotJker9Q7xxODkwpmisksGHxk8WEELGk7ARg9SiRNgM2kGFQBo3fLjmJLqlkVzJi1Z8FK2WcSeKa965HWL0judJCIopIDkq-3cl2gu5gLEpI6FrGhp1V2KIqjU7e2ErDKKfhaPgaCdNSGHXnRyeqxLy58aWS-tldkVcHv1rrAZrIBROyKsm1cFzxmseHVgeg-eW6uGXsX4CreHLlquPnlqREBswAXrr~jegnn3yrzBqdxbLr0XCnGWlz84AFeb5wwfmKRHYgSqcKDr~4pUSgqomo9SRc1lGqR-dNbW7A7k~7gPP-1GWmt04yhmIoyIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","District of Columbia (Public Works and Operations)","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Committee on Public Works and Operations voted Jan. 28 to authorize an investigation into the alleged unauthorized operations of Museum Inc., which does business in the District as the ride-hailing app Empower.

Committee Chair Council Member Brianne Nadeau said the investigation will examine the extent of Empower’s alleged violations, the impact on riders, operators and the for‑hire vehicle industry, and will calculate the total amounts the company owes to the District in unpaid taxes, civil penalties and other fees. Nadeau stated, in the transcript, that those amounts “at least surpass a $100,000,000.”

Nadeau told the committee that the District prevailed in the D.C. Court of Appeals late last year, and that the court “ordered in no uncertain terms that Empower shall immediately cease operations as a digital dispatch service and private sedan business,” including a prohibition on using the Empower platform to provide rides that originate or terminate in the District until the company properly registers with the Department of For Hire Vehicles.

Despite that court decision, Nadeau said Empower has continued to operate and has escalated opposition strategies. She said committee staff have coordinated with the D.C. Attorney General’s Office and the Department of For Hire Vehicles as the committee begins document requests and plans public hearings in the first half of the year. The stated ultimate goal is for the committee to determine whether updates to District law are necessary to protect riders and enforce against unauthorized activity.

Nadeau moved to approve the unauthorized private-for-hire-vehicle investigation authorization resolution of 2025, and the committee recorded unanimous approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","District of Columbia (Public Works and Operations) - Committee on Public Works & Operations, (Add'l) Committee Meeting, Brianne Nadeau, Chairperson - Jan 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Committee on Public Works and Operations authorized an investigation into Museum Inc., doing business as Empower, asserting the company is operating in violation of a D.C. Court of Appeals decision and may owe more than $100 million in unpaid taxes, penalties and fees.","taxTitle","Committee on Public Works and Operations, Committees, Legislative, District of Columbia","taxId",15951,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6681529,"Committee appoints legislative and committee staff for council period 26",65,569000,634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48&start=569&end=634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48/thumbnail_569000.jpg","/articles/6681529/Committee-appoints-legislative-and-committee-staff-for-council-period-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681529-264a549c37bb9edf2bb4ccd42169135e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501380&Signature=hd1UWfCGynshwPmmcpu~rTHLYHi7jXeEIA4zdk5EL5OjBJXKMS1bOTnRYbDv2QUlAmGp9HoH2yqWOjPba8tTCwPvzm58fi8qDXY8YJBxOaIlv0wv0MX7aDSJRBIRL7mAi6BuTuJjh2IiGp7jXA2MjipfajzZIE1m~cOZE9Ml4Vaf3aHxkwXV59ZStgN7lp2NIzZlmZJ0gen1XEpcuIV2KFQ3r~mozjsiMta0ZFJltOruuQ2DAZB9NylDSGx3vYyOAedOb-eNTOg5keK-ShGLsE61umOYTfNpCeKnsiT42eAaAcKYE9VZ9vD~q53x8qvD39M7tvISsOLFRPaNTDdSQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Public Works and Operations on Jan. 28 approved a staff appointment resolution naming five staff members to serve the committee during council period 26.

The resolution appoints David Meny as legislative director; Ariel Ardora as committee director; Sabrine Katia as senior legislative assistant; and Abby Boschert and Amanda Chulik as legislative assistants. The committee approved the appointments unanimously and granted leave for staff to make technical, conforming and editorial changes to the resolution.

During the meeting, a council member offered praise for the slate, saying, “I think you have an outstanding group of staff, and I look forward to working with them. They are committed public servants.” The speaker was recorded in the transcript only as a council member and was not otherwise identified by name on the record.

Council Member Brianne Nadeau moved approval of the staff appointment resolution. With no further discussion, committee members answered aye and the chair recorded unanimous approval.","The Committee on Public Works and Operations approved a staff appointment resolution naming a legislative director, committee director, senior legislative assistant and two legislative assistants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":44,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6681533,"Council committee adopts rules of organization and procedure for council period 26",94,496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48&start=496&end=590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157788-3bc3941a2b0bdb3b46b4a212fc0a2d48/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6681533/Council-committee-adopts-rules-of-organization-and-procedure-for-council-period-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681533-6342fad266f06649d7c843ba4626ae5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501380&Signature=ow9m1cAK0QdtPIMeWDlQY-881byoJtE~2y6PdPxzIXhrrT0Uakv4mh1cO1flDt7xoXT~pgf2cK2N0SKMbN6~hijaBia55SFsAYi9sp5BRlPmIirnc8sQp1d1imLtnUEYWIbapXZVXAaKNopBcsODDpeRI2MxpGkLx2bAMTmObWL9rqQFbFGJhugWKYnhsh49JLWklGDVa0Du~bLqRrDjQQZORgvDbBQkvR5-~xbyphOLKPTNnOh7ZLJp~6n70Xw-jwbF2gtoS9FqZvaodoYqWhCKi0ALc-omgT3Vtn4naTa5J2ci1SpT2iaOL6ltb3CFILsoYTakvsqPlPp5O2twZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council Member Brianne Nadeau, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Operations, opened the committee’s organizational meeting on Jan. 28 and moved to approve the committee’s rules of organization and procedure for council period 26.

The rules, which Nadeau said largely mirror the governing principles used in council period 25, were approved unanimously with leave for staff to make technical, conforming and editorial changes.

The committee convened with a quorum present. Nadeau said the committee’s purview includes procurement, human rights, partnerships and grants management, Department of For Hire Vehicles oversight, recycling and waste management, and other administrative matters. Ward 4 Council Member Janice Liz George joined the meeting before the vote.

Nadeau moved approval of the rules and asked if there was any discussion. With no discussion, she called for the ayes; the committee recorded unanimous approval. The committee recorded that staff may make technical and conforming edits to the text.","The Committee on Public Works and Operations unanimously approved its rules of organization and procedure for council period 26, largely mirroring the prior period’s rules and allowing staff to make technical edits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee authorizes investigation into unauthorized operations of Empower ride-hailing service

Committee appoints legislative and committee staff for council period 26

Council committee adopts rules of organization and procedure for council period 26