Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber

by Mike Isaac

Sagar Shah, Uber’s local general manager, called local television news stations and print reporters to the MTC offices, where a line of Uber employees marched up with nine white, 15-by-12-inch file-folder storage boxes labeled “1,000 PETITIONS.” After stacking the boxes high against the front door of the MTC, Shah delivered a short, lofty speech on democratic ideals and “listening to the voices” of the people supporting Uber. After the cameras were turned off and Uber officials had left the scene, a reporter decided to look inside one of the boxes the company had left. It was filled with six-packs of plastic seventeen-ounce water bottles, as were the eight other boxes that accompanied it.