With Lyft on hold, sharing-economy startups rally for public support

The sharing economy is going on the grassroots offensive. We saw both Lyft and Airbnb pushing for public support today.

Today on the 5 train coming back from Manhattan, this reporter noticed an abundance of ads about how Airbnb is good for New York City. It was definitely not encouraging people to use the site. The message was to keep it in New York.

Then tonight in Prospect Park, we saw a petitioner asking people going to the free concert organized by BRIC if they wanted to sign a petition in support of Airbnb. Here’s another photo, just before the petitioner got one couple to sign:

A Hilltop Public Solutions consultant in Prospect Park, on behalf of Airbnb. (Photo by Brady Dale)

We got a quick look at the petition, and it didn’t appear to be directed at anyone. It seemed to be more an effort to collect information from supporters. While the t-shirt the canvasser was wearing had the company’s name and logo on it, when we spoke, she said she did not work for Airbnb (or Peers, either, whose work on behalf of the home-sharing site we have covered here). Instead, she said she was working full-time for something she called “Hilltop Consulting.”

We couldn’t find anything linking Airbnb to “Hilltop Consulting” online, and there are several companies that have roughly that name. However, the most likely one it could be would seem to be Hilltop Public Solutions, whose founding partner is Mo Elleithee, a Democratic Party operative.

We surmise that this is who she meant based on two facts: it’s the only consultancy baring the name that offers grassroots and grasstops services as part of its consulting packages on its website and because it has a Brooklyn office, on Court Street.

In other news, as Lyft has abruptly put its services on hold, users who try to open the app up in New York City will see this screen:

The ridesharing company is also asking users to sign a petition showing support for the service. Until the company works out a deal with the Taxi and Limousine Commission, by way of the courts, potential riders will keep seeing the following: