The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission will hold a meeting to discuss recent revelations regarding executive director Kyle Cockream next Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the County Center in Tampa.
“I have scheduled an emergency meeting of the Public Transportation Commission Board with our legal counsel and germane support for the purpose of discussing recent allegations attacking the integrity, character and independence of our director, staff and board,” PTC Chairman Victor Crist wrote to board members Friday afternoon.
A large batch of emails regarding Cockream’s actions have been obtained by the media in the past week, with the biggest revelation being that the PTC used employees from local taxicab and limousine companies to assist in PTC-led sting operations to issue citations to Lyft and Uber drivers.
Other emails have revealed Cockream shared correspondence between the agency’s lobbying firm with cab companies on opposing state legislation that would legalize ridesharing.
Yet other emails revealed Cockream had coordinated with taxicab and limousine officials while addressing the Palm Beach County Commission at a ridesharing workshop, though he had previously said he was in Palm Beach on vacation and dropped in on the meeting.
“It’s important for us to discuss the recent issues covered by the news media, so that we can effectively move forward for all parties involved,” Cockream said in a statement. “With that in mind, I look forward to meeting with the PTC Board.”
