When we hit that button to order food through an app, systems engage long supply chains, billions in venture capital, and thousands of people. The impact this has on cities shows up in disappearing cab stands and overwhelmed restaurants. When it comes to the people end of the equation, jurisdictions are working to make sure they’re paid equitably. Figuring out what that means is a political question.
Managing Editor Natalie Argerious and Reporter Ray Dubicki open this week’s podcast talking about how much the shiny app icons on your phone are deceptive. They talk a good game about disrupting an industry and end up leaving a mark on our streets. In the second half, we talk about PayUp Legislation, Seattle’s attempt to quantify how much it takes to pay app workers a minimum wage.
Want to share your experiences ordering from an app or working in the on-demand or marketplace arenas? Reach out to us at podcast [at] theurbanist.org. As always, you can find The Urbanist podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and other major platforms.
Ray Dubicki is a stay-at-home dad and parent-on-call for taking care of general school and neighborhood tasks around Ballard. This lets him see how urbanism works (or doesn’t) during the hours most people are locked in their office. He is an attorney and urbanist by training, with soup-to-nuts planning experience from code enforcement to university development to writing zoning ordinances. He enjoys using PowerPoint, but only because it’s no longer a weekly obligation.