News and Views from Political Author Steven Hill
By Steven Hill, Salon, December 3, 2015
Hotel taxes and zoning laws shouldn’t be disrupted. If Airbnb stopped releasing selective data, they wouldn’t be
A new article in the New York Times blares the headline that many have been waiting for: “Airbnb Releases Trove of New York City Home-Sharing Data.”…
Graduate Center at CUNY, November 19, 2015
Steven Hill, author of Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers, joins New York Times columnist Eduardo Porter for a timely discussion. Introduced by Janet Gornick, director of the Luxembourg Income Study Center.…
KQED Forum with Michael Krasny, November 19, 2015
In his new book “Raw Deal”, author Steven Hill takes on Airbnb, as well as Uber, Lyft and TaskRabbit, arguing for greater regulations on their operations and safety-net protections for workers. Listen to the interview on NPR-affiliate KQED in San Francisco.…
Wall Street Journal, November 3, 2015
By Josh Zumbrun
With the flick of fingers across a phone, people can now summon a driver, rent an apartment for the night or hire a handyman. The companies that make this possible–behind, say, the ride-hailing app Uber or the short-term rental app Airbnb–are some of the most valuable startups in the U.S.…
By Steven Hill, Observer, November 2, 2015
Uber may not be as invincible as it seems.
The behemoth ride-sharing service Uber has jolted city after city like a mighty earthquake. It has gained a momentum that seems almost unstoppable. Some say it portends the future of the U.S. economy. At the least, taxi companies and their antiquated medallion system are being crushed.…
By Steven Hill, Salon, October 31, 2015
The “sharing” economy sounds groovy: politically neutral, anti-consumerist. Wait until it comes for your job
A significant factor in the decline of the quality of jobs in the United States has been employers’ increasing reliance on “non-regular” employees — a growing army of freelancers, temps, contractors, part-timers, day laborers, micro-entrepreneurs, gig-preneurs, solo-preneurs, contingent labor, perma-lancers and perma-temps.…
By Steven Hill, Medium, November 3, 2015
As San Franciscans contemplate Proposition F, a measure that would crack down on Airbnb rentals, I would like to address the “regular people” hosts who are trying to use Airbnb to make ends meet. Airbnb likes to portray “regular people” hosts as the face of its company.…
By Steven Hill, San Francisco Examiner, November 1, 2015
Airbnb, the giant app-based hotel service, has disrupted housing markets and people’s lives in city after city. In response, many cities are cracking down, and that’s really a shame because Airbnb began as a good idea — it empowered “regular people” hosts, allowing them to earn a few extra dollars by renting out a spare room or couch to tourists.…
By Steven Hill, American Prospect, November 1, 2015/Fall Issue
How the popular matching company facilitates landlord conversion of entire rental buildings to de facto hotels.
“Belonging is the idea that defines Airbnb,” says its young, 34-year-old billionaire CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky. “Really, we’re about home. You see, a house is just a space, but a home is where you belong.…
By Steven Hill, Business Insider, October 30, 2015
Airbnb, the $25 billion global-hospitality behemoth, may have met its match. And right in its hometown of San Francisco.
On November 3, the voters of San Francisco will vote on Proposition F, the citizens initiative that, if passed, will crack down on Airbnb’s business.…
Brian Lehrer show, NPR in NYC, October 30, 2015
Steven Hill, political journalist and author of Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Naked Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers, appears on the Brian Lehrer show on NPR and argues the share economy is bad for workers.
…
By Steven Hill, Huffington Post, October 29, 2015
CNBC held a GOP presidential debate that was billed as being focused on the subject of the economy. Instead, we found out that Donald Trump sometimes carries a handgun, that Jeb Bush thinks that fantasy sports betting is like daytrading, that Chris Christie thinks that Social Security is broke (it’s not), and that Ted Cruz wants to go back to the gold standard.…
KPFA/Pacifica, October 27, 2015
What’s under the hood of the “sharing economy?” We talk to Steven Hill about his new takedown on the Ubers and AirBNBs of the world — and how to make the “gig” economy a fair one.…
Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU/NPR, October 26, 2015
New America Foundation fellow Steven Hill, who recently authored the book Raw Deal: How the ‘Uber Economy’ and Runaway Capitalism are Screwing American Workers, argues that Airbnb effectively pits local residents against tourists. For example, he saya he’s interviewed tenants who’ve been kicked out of their rental units to be replaced by Airbnb renters.…
The Street, October 24, 2015
Television interview by The Street’s Gregg Greenberg of Raw Deal author Steven Hill.
Wall Street and Silicon Valley may be excited about the emergence of the so-called sharing economy, but freelance workers driving for Uber are getting “screwed over,” says Steven Hill, author of the new book Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers.…
By Steven Hill, CNN, October 22, 2015
What will jobs of the future look like, in a world in which Uber, Airbnb and TaskRabbit are becoming the model for new job creation.
The U.S. workforce, which has been one of the world’s most productive and wealthiest, is undergoing an alarming transformation.…
Washington Independent Review of Books, October 21, 2015
Reviewed by Michael Causey
You might want to stop high-fiving yourselves, freelancers.
Say, you look like a bright guy. Entrepreneurial. High-energy. Not afraid of a challenge. Am I right? Bet you’d like to be your own boss, too. Work when you want, where you want.…
By Steven Hill, New York Daily News, October 22, 2015
The giant hospitality service Airbnb has struck like a tornado in city after city. In response, some cities are legalizing Airbnb’s app-based rent-a-room operation, while others are cracking down.
Jersey City is the latest to announce it will try legalization; San Francisco, which legalized Airbnb last year, has been plagued by loopholes, prompting a coalition of homeowners and tenant advocates to mount a November ballot initiative that will be decided by voters.…
By Steven Hill, Fast Company, October 20, 2015
The following post was excerpted from
RAW DEAL: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism are Screwing American Workers
Reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Press
(c) 2015 by Steven Hill, published on October 20, 2015
Micro-gigging via the various labor platforms in the sharing economy leaves already vulnerable workers no better off, and in some ways worse off.…
Bloomberg Business, October 20, 2015
The Bloomberg Advantage’s Carol Massar and Cory Johnson interview journalist and author Steven Hill about the sharing economy and his new book “Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers.” He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets.”…
By Steven Hill, Fast Company, October 19, 2015
Creating a new social contract for a multi-employer world.
In a few short years since its founding, Uber has become an iconic company and a global phenomenon, valued at $51 billion—almost as much as old-economy stalwart General Motors, which clocks in at $52 billion.…
By Steven Hill, Huffington Post, October 17, 2015
The following post was excerpted from
RAW DEAL: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism are Screwing American Workers
Reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Press
(c) 2015 by Steven Hill, published on October 20, 2015
*****The third actor in this passion play is Mr.…
by Steven Hill, San Francisco Chronicle, October 11, 2015
Uber, the $51 billion global ride-hailing company, has quickly become not only a leader in the urban transportation industry but also popular among many of its users. My friends especially love its handy app, which allows the waiting passenger to track the arrival of his or her Uber ride.…
By Steven Hill, Zero Hour with RJ Eskow, September 30, 2015
Steven Hill, author of Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers, interviewed by RJ Eskow about the on-demand economy. Video and radio.…
By Steven Hill, Huffington Post, September 13, 2015
Uber used Colbert like the State Department used Judith Miller
Stephen, I realize it’s only entertainment and that your job is to make people laugh. But when you bring on a very un-funny fellow like Travis Kalanick, it seems you and your production team should think a little more cleverly about how you put lipstick on that pig.…