…Fingerprinting will discriminate against communities of color
By Ken Hare
Chicago Defender Staff Writer
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has come out strongly against the proposed fingerprinting requirement being pushed by Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale Jr., and the 32 Aldermen that support changing the requirements for Chicago’s chauffeur license. The new requirements, if passed, could limit your choices of transportation ridesharing companies, according to westside community activist Sharon Ngwen.
“It’s hard to believe that certain aldermen are backing these changes that will disqualify a lot of their constituents from driving for Uber and Lyft. How can you consciously take food off their tables and interfere with their ability to pay their rent and mortgages?” she asked.
In particular, the proposed Amendment to the Municipal Code, Title 9 concerning public chauffeur’s license and transportation networks would among other changes require drivers to submit to fingerprint checks. This single requirement alone could possibly wipe out thousands of drivers, especially people of color, according to Eric Holder.
This is his two-page letter to Alderman Anthony Beale.
Click here if you are having trouble viewing both pages:Â https://suntimesmedia.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/letter-to-alderman-beale-june-2-2016.pdf
Contact information for all 50 Chicago aldermen is below. Call, email or fax  your alderman now and let them know if you are in favor or against the proposed changes. The measure is up for a vote in the City Council on June 22, 2016.