Calls for state oversight before Waymo begins fully operating in Minneapolis There are calls for state oversight before Waymo begins operating commercially in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley moderated a panel discussion Wednesday evening with state and industry leaders. Community members and stakeholders raised concerns about how the company handles data, whether an autonomous vehicle would be able to navigate Minnesota road construction and the number of bikers, and how support works if the car has a problem. Ride-share drivers are also worried about how it could affect jobs. “Concerns about, are we going to lose our jobs one day?” said Eid Ali, president of MULDA, who told the group it will be important to provide training for drivers to pivot in the future. “There has to be some additional fees down the road when we’re talking about policies that will be created.” The ride-share company currently offers rides in more than 10 cities, according to its website. It lists Minneapolis among more than 20 other cities that are “up next.” “We really need good state regulations first, and operating without that is a murky gray area,” said Joe Harrington, policy manager for Our Streets. During the last legislative session, state lawmakers considered establishing a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. The bill included setting insurance requirements, giving the state control over regulations rather than cities, and addressing how collisions are handled, but it didn’t pass. “We did hear really powerful stories from people who felt Waymo would be a better option than what they currently have,” said Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis). “I’m thinking about people who have been in very traumatic car accidents where they just couldn’t be with a human driver; it was too scary.” She added, however, “If we’re going to open our state