The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to vote for Proposition 1 on the May 7 ballot and repeal the fingerprint-based background checks Austin City Council mandated last year. The chamber's board of directors unanimously approved a resolution April 28 supporting Proposition 1, a measure it said would "enact common-sense ... regulations" of ride-hailing companies, such as Uber and Lyft. "This is a complex issue that has generated thoughtful discussion in the business community," Board Chairman Tony Budet said. "After careful consideration of both sides of the proposition, we don’t believe the city should have enacted new regulations. The election was called in February after area residents filed a petition in response to City Council’s December passage of new regulations for ride-hailing companies, including requiring drivers to undergo fingerprint-based background checks. Passage of Proposition 1 would remove that mandate. The resolution the chamber board adopted on April 28 states that City Council's regulatory actions regarding ride-hailing companies discourage investment and harms Austin's reputation for cultivating creativity and entrepreneurialism. On April 14, the Real Estate Council of Austin, which advocates for the local commercial real estate industry, announced its support of Proposition 1. RECA held a forum April 28 where it formally announced the endorsement to its membership. Former Mayor Lee Leffingwell, who chairs the Ridesharing Works for Austin campaign in favor of Proposition 1, gave remarks at the forum urging residents to vote for Proposition 1. Mayor Steve Adler, who also attended the event, has announced he will vote against the proposition. Budet said the regulations for ride-hailing companies put into place in 2014 had been working well for the city. "A dynamic, job-producing business community requires that the city keep its commitments and not allow regulations to change every time a new City Council is elected," he said. "We believe in a level playing field for both new and legacy ride-hailing companies, such as taxis—an approach that’s supportive of innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business.”