Desiree Sainthrope is a Legal expert with extensive experience drafting and analyzing trade agreements. She is a recognized authority in global compliance and possesses a broad range of interests within the legal field, including intellectual property and the evolving implications of technologies such as AI. In this conversation, we explore the complex arrival of autonomous vehicle company Waymo in New York City, touching on the promises made to underserved communities, the potential economic fallout for professional drivers, and the critical need for robust, city-led regulation to protect the public interest.
Waymo claims it can help fill gaps in transit deserts, a promise previously made by rideshare companies. How can officials ensure this promise is met, and what specific metrics should be used to measure success or failure in serving these communities? Please provide some examples.
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? We’ve heard this song before from companies like Uber and Lyft, and the results have been deeply underwhelming for the outer boroughs. The key is to move beyond corporate assurances and establish stringent, data-driven accountability from the very beginning. We can’t just accept their internal reports. The city must mandate access to anonymized trip data to independently verify service patterns. Success isn’t measured by a press release; it’s measured by metrics like the percentage of total fleet miles logged in designated transit deserts, wait times in those zones compared to Manhattan, and pricing that doesn’t surge exorbitantly the moment a subway line has a delay. If the data shows they are just circling Midtown, then the promise is broken, and there must be regulatory consequences.
Waymo suggests it won’t add more cars to the road, implying its vehicles would replace existing ones and the jobs they support. What is the potential economic impact on professional drivers, and how can the city balance reducing congestion with protecting livelihoods in the taxi industry?
Let’s be clear: when a company says they won’t add more cars but will introduce thousands of new vehicles, that’s a direct threat to the livelihoods of professional drivers. The notion that this will be a seamless one-for-one replacement is a fantasy. We saw how the taxi industry was wounded, almost mortally, by the last wave of tech disruption. The city has a responsibility to prevent a repeat of that trauma. Balancing this is incredibly difficult, but it starts with rejecting the company’s timeline and pace. The city could implement a phased rollout with strict caps on the number of autonomous vehicles allowed, directly tied to verifiable data on congestion reduction and, crucially, a comprehensive plan for driver transition, retraining, or compensation. We cannot sacrifice an entire workforce at the altar of technological progress without a just and equitable transition plan.
Given the skepticism from public transit advocates about tech firms improving quality of life, what independent verification should be required to validate Waymo’s safety claims? Please walk me through the steps you believe are necessary to build public trust before a wide-scale rollout.
Public trust can’t be built on a company’s marketing. It has to be earned through radical transparency and rigorous, independent oversight. First, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, not Waymo, must establish the testing and safety validation protocols. This would involve a multi-stage pilot program, starting in controlled, low-density environments before ever touching a complex streetscape like Midtown. Second, all data related to disengagements, near-misses, and any form of collision, no matter how minor, must be reported to the TLC in near real-time and made publicly available. Third, an independent auditor, chosen by the city, should review this data and Waymo’s safety algorithms. Only after passing these milestones, with public hearings at each stage, can we even begin to discuss a wider rollout. New Yorkers are rightfully suspicious when a tech company promises to improve their lives while also aiming for massive profits.
A key City Council bill to regulate autonomous vehicles is currently in limbo. If you were advising its new sponsor, what three critical standards for licensing, insurance, and accessibility for disabled New Yorkers would you insist be included to protect the public interest?
If I were in Council Member Brewer’s ear, I’d emphasize three non-negotiable pillars. First, for licensing, the Taxi and Limousine Commission must be the sole regulatory body with the power to issue, suspend, or revoke operating permits based on performance, not a state-level agency that might be more susceptible to corporate lobbying. Second, for insurance, we need to mandate coverage levels far beyond the standard, creating a specific liability framework for autonomous technology that protects pedestrians and other drivers from the immense legal gray areas that currently exist. Third, accessibility cannot be an afterthought. The bill must mandate that a significant and increasing percentage of the fleet be fully wheelchair-accessible from day one, with clear performance standards to ensure equitable service for disabled New Yorkers. These can’t be vague promises; they must be codified into law before a single car is deployed.
City leaders have stressed the need to proceed on “New York City time,” not the company’s timeline. What specific, practical steps should the Taxi and Limousine Commission take to ensure it, not the tech companies, is in control of the integration process?
Taking control means being proactive, not reactive. The first practical step is for the TLC to immediately draft a comprehensive regulatory framework, using the City Council bill as a foundation, even before it’s passed. This shows they are setting the terms. Second, they must establish a dedicated AV task force with experts in technology, labor, and urban planning to analyze every aspect of Waymo’s proposal. Third, the TLC should publicly define a clear, stage-gated process for approval that includes mandatory public comment periods and performance benchmarks that must be met before any expansion is considered. This sends a powerful message: You don’t just get to enter our market. You have to earn the right to operate on our streets, on our terms, and according to our schedule. This is about ensuring technology serves the city, not the other way around.
What is your forecast for autonomous vehicles in New York City?
My forecast is one of cautious, and likely slow, integration. I don’t see a future where thousands of Waymo vehicles are suddenly flooding the five boroughs next year. There’s too much institutional skepticism, particularly from leaders like Gale Brewer, and too many painful memories from the last tech disruption. The city government, especially the City Council and the TLC, will assert its authority. I predict a very limited, geographically restricted pilot program within the next few years, but a full-scale rollout is likely a decade or more away. The political and regulatory hurdles are immense, and New York has a unique ability to stand up to powerful corporations. The technology will eventually arrive, but it will be on New York City’s time, and it will look very different from how the companies envision it today.
