He's the City Council's champion for a shrinking industry fighting for survival in the Uber era. But the chairman denied that the ordinance he muscled through committee was a payback for campaign contributions received from a dying industry. "This is about the safety and well-being of the people of Chicago. If you get into an Uber, I want to make sure you're safe," he said. Uber, whose investors include Mayor Rahm Emanuel's brother, said the company agrees with local congressmen and former Attorney General Eric Holder.