This summer, Portsmouth, NH regulated UBER and other ride-sharing services out of the city. UBER’s regional spokesperson described the regulations as, “Draconian” including prohibiting anyone with a misdemeanor conviction within seven years from being able to drive, among other restrictions which have nothing to do with a person’s ability to drive safely. UBER refused to jump through the arbitrary hoops, and as a result is now prohibited from operating in Portsmouth, its drivers facing fines of $500 – $1,000 per day.
In a heroic act of ongoing civil disobedience, Free State Project early mover Christopher David decided to keep driving anyway. Free Keene broke the story when it happened, and he’s since gotten some mainstream media coverage and has launched FREEUBER.org, a site encouraging Portsmouth inhabitants to take action on the issue by contacting city councilors, riding UBER, and driving for UBER. He has even posted fliers promoting his site all over downtown Portsmouth.
Now, he’s coming to speak as our Saturday night Keynote at Keenevention 2015!
I got a sad letter from my attorney this week. He informed me that the Supreme Court of NH upheld the lower court’s decision to deny my application for a license to carry a handgun discreetly. You can read the decision here:
Thanks to Free State Project founder Jason Sorens and several volunteers who came out including Varrin Swearingen, former FSP president for coming to Keene Public Library yesterday for a couple of hours to explain the FSP and field questions from members of the public. Here’s the full video from the event, including all the Q&A:
Free State Project early mover and fabulous dancer Andre Rosa has made it through the Manchester primary! Now, he enters the general election contest against a union guy for the open (meaning no incumbent is running) Ward 1 Manchester city council seat to be decided in the vote on November 3rd.
Free Keene broke the news last week about the UBER driver and Free State Project early mover in Portsmouth who has been flagrantly violating the city’s prohibition of the innovative ride-sharing service. Christopher David has courageously stepped out into the limelight and announced to the world, and more specifically the Portsmouth city council and police that he’s continuing to give people illegal rides around the Seacoast city.
Now, mainstream media has picked up the story of Christopher’s heroic civil disobedience in this Seacoast Online story by Elizabeth Dinan. Christopher reports on his facebook that he and another activist have posted 100 flyers around downtown Portsmouth promoting his new website, FREEUBER.org that is encouraging Portsmouth’s inhabitants to contact the city council (it provides their contact info), boycott the snitch cab companies, and sign up as an UBER driver to join the ranks of the civilly disobedient!
Stay tuned here to Free Keene as this saga develops!
Recorded September 9th, 2015
The Rebel Love Crew has returned from the NH Hempfest & Freedom Rally invigorated with good vibes, peace, freedom and love. Topics discussed include Hempfest’s mission, our experience at the festival, best moments, favorite drugs to use there, pro pot Porcupine speakers, experiencing Zach Deputy for the first time while rolling, the Rebel Love campsite, the silent disco, and what we took from the second annual festival. Other topics this week include the recent detention and threats of violence Rob and his Rebel Mistress faced by the hands of the Manchester police and a NH State trooper earlier this week. The Rebel Love Show broadcasts every Tuesday night at 10 pm EST on LRN.FM and Rebelloveshow.com