Airbnb is re-entering New York City's short-term rental market by committing $1 million to what it describes as a grassroots movement of homeowners looking to rent out their one- and two-family homes.
The online rental company suffered an embarrassing defeat in the fall of 2023 when the city council passed a law imposing stricter regulations on home sharing, forcing Airbnb to remove tens of thousands of Big Apple rentals from its site at the time. As a result, traditional hotel rates have skyrocketed. .
Local Law 18 requires hosts to be present when guests are home, but Airbnb's secret lobbying effort, introduced by City Councilor Farrah Lewis and supported by House Speaker Adrian Adams, He supports a new bill that would overturn that.
The new bill would allow short-term rentals in one- or two-family homes when the owner is physically absent.
Some critics argue that Airbnb is funneling money to organizations to create a grassroots movement that doesn't exist.
“I don't think most people who own single-family or two-family homes want to see this type of activity in their neighborhoods,” said Michael McKee, treasurer of Tenant PAC. he told The Post on Tuesday. “Certainly, we haven't found widespread evidence of that.”
McKee said the multibillion-dollar technology company is embedding lobbying fees into other coalitions and nonprofits that support the legal changes Airbnb seeks, calling it “AstroTurf.” The move is known as a campaign.
Airbnb, for example, spent nearly $400,000 on a coalition called Communities for Homeowner Choice, a lobbying group launched in February.
Airbnb is the sole funder of Communities for Homeowner Choice, according to a lobbying report filed with the Government Ethics and Lobbying Commission obtained by the newspaper. However, the group does not have contact information on its website and has not posted on its social media accounts in six months.
“I don't think there's a real grassroots movement. I don't think there are thousands of homeowners who want this,” McKee said.
Communities for Homeowner Choice has no contact information listed on its website, and no one immediately responded to a Facebook message.
Restore Homeowners Autonomy and Rights is also described as a grassroots group supported solely by Airbnb, but a spokesperson said its membership runs deeper.
According to RHOAR's website, they are a group of New York City homeowners who want to restore short-term rental rights to their homes.
Lobbying records filed with the Government Ethics and Lobbying Commission show the group has spent $600,000 on an ad campaign targeting the City Council since May, and Airbnb is RHOAR's only source of funding. Listed as provider.
Records obtained by the newspaper show that both RHOAR and Communities for Homeowner Choice pay political consulting firm Bamberger & Blast Strategies to handle advertising campaigns and lobbying efforts.
A RHOAR spokesperson, who identified herself as Gia S., told the Post that the group has more than 600 members.
“To unite and advocate, we have a private message group with approximately 450 members that is active daily to discuss and advocate for this and other homeowner issues. We also have virtual town halls to make it easier for members to participate,” Zia said.
Nathan Rotman, Airbnb's director of policy, told The Post that Airbnb's support for groups is not something to hide.
“We have never hidden the fact that we support organizers who advocate for these changes,” Rotman said. “It's nothing new or unusual for us.”
Rotman also said that Airbnb's support for amending Local Law 18 is because “like other major cities in North America and around the world, some homeowners are renting out their homes while they are away.” “It allows me to earn extra income,” he said.
“This law will allow people to rent out their homes on weekends, during vacations, and when they want to make extra money,” Rotman said.
