# Waymo funds D.C. community sponsorships ahead of robotaxi bill vote

_Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:51 PM EDT · Robotics, Policy · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Waymo funds D.C. community sponsorships ahead of robotaxi bill vote — Primary](https://res.cloudinary.com/dguyaoteo/image/upload/c_limit,w_1200/f_auto/q_auto/v1/pqozzx75jw2h7lb6ntil?_a=BAVMn6DY0)

Waymo has spent tens of thousands of dollars sponsoring Washington, D.C., community events as it lobbies the D.C. Council to allow commercial autonomous vehicles, City Cast DC reports.

The company is title sponsor of a Brookland fall festival and pace car for the D.C. Bike Ride, and has sponsored groups including the National Federation of the Blind D.C. and Best Buddies. The Council returns next week to consider a bill permitting up to 200 autonomous vehicles; current D.C. rules require a person in the driver's seat.

Some partners testified in support at a July hearing, while mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George and labor unions oppose robotaxis.

## Sources

- [dc.citycast.fm](https://dc.citycast.fm/news/waymo-community-sponsorship-dc)

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Retrieved: 2026-09-12T02:54:18.825Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)