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Despite slick PR portraying #Airbnb & #ExpediaGroup as caring & supportive of citizens & their neighborhoods, their actions reinforce my belief that they should not be relied on to act in the best interest of #AZ: citizens, neighborhoods, public safety, & overall wellbeing. #STRs
One month ago, mayors from 33 #AZ cities & towns (representing approx. 4.5 million people) wrote the CEOs of @airbnb and @expediagroup to ask that their companies stop blocking bipartisan reform of AZ #STR law they support that guts local residential zoning laws and enforcement.
AZ mayors from around our great state, who work for their citizens, shared with the #STR CEOs our deep concerns that “short-term rentals operating without appropriate local government oversight are causing long-term damage to our communities and the entire state.”
I share my further views as 1 mo. later, the AZ Mayors’ letter re: #STRs & bad #AZ law ( #SB1350) continues to meet SILENCE from the CEOs, notwithstanding the multi-billion $ valuations of #Airbnb & #ExpediaGroup & the powerful PR, "govt. affairs," & lawyers they wield. @bchesky
The current approach of #Airbnb & #ExpediaGroup is deeply disappointing, but not a huge surprise. If you want to better understand their businesses' objectives and risks, you can review their filings with the #SEC ( http://sec.gov/edgar ). Some excerpts below.
In its SEC filings, #Airbnb touts its so-called “Airbnb Community Compact.” Airbnb states this means that it “Treat[s] cities personally” – “We [Airbnb] seek to partner with cities to address their individual policy needs.” Really?!? That’s not what I've experienced…
#Airbnb, also: “When a government agency seeks to apply laws and regulations in a manner that limits or curtails hosts’ or guests’ ability or willingness to list and search for accommodations in that particular geography, we have attempted and may continue to attempt through
[cot’d from prior tweet] litigation or other means to defend against such application of laws and regulations. . . . Further, if we or our hosts and guests were required to comply with laws and regulations, government requests, or agreements with government agencies that
[cot’d from prior tweet] adversely impact our relations with hosts and guests, our business, results of operations, and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.”
#ExpediaGroup remarks that: “[C]ertain . . . jurisdictions have adopted or are considering statutes or ordinances that prohibit or limit the ability of property owners and managers to rent certain properties
[cot’d from prior tweet] for fewer than 30 consecutive days, or that regulate short term rental platforms’ ability to list alternative accommodations, including prohibiting the listing of unlicensed properties. . . .
[cot’d from prior tweet] These risks could have a material adverse effect on our alternative accommodations business and results of operations. . . .”
I believe that the #AZ law ( #SB1350) the #STR industry promotes & defends reflects a larger strategy to strip away accountable local authority, which can surgically address negative impacts of the commercial activities they foster, to bolster their growth & financial positions.
Imagine if powerful out-of-state companies won your state government over for the absolute entitlement for #STRs (unstaffed hotels) to be established throughout cities' neighborhood areas that NEVER allowed such activities under local laws? In #AZ, we don't have to imagine.
