Airbnb has launched a super PAC to raise $5 million to help elect city and state candidates who support short-term rentals.
The online rental company's new political arm, Keeping New York Afforable, is poised to support candidates in more than a dozen City Council primaries this June, the Post reported.
Airbnb's support will run through 2026 and will give preferential treatment to candidates who allow homeowners to rent out their homes short-term on the company's app, countering the hotel industry, particularly the Hotel Trades Council union, which sees short-term rentals as competition for tourists. .
The company suffered a crushing defeat in 2023 when the city council passed a law imposing stricter regulations on home sharing, forcing Airbnb to remove tens of thousands of Big Apple rental properties from its site and hotel prices have soared.
The short-term rental industry was devastated by laws requiring hosts to be present when guests are in their homes.
But as the Post reported on Sunday, Airbnb is using politics to fight its way back to New York.
The company is lobbying for the passage of a new bill introduced by City Councilwoman Farrah Lewis (D-Brooklyn) and supported by House Speaker Adrian Adams (D-Queens). The bill would “restore short-term rental rights to small neighborhood homeowners” and pave the way for mortgage financing. The revival of that entire city.
Co-sponsors of the bill include Councilmembers Cervena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens), Kevin Riley (D-Bronx), Diana Ayala (Bronx/Manhattan), and Mercedes Narcisse (D-Brooklyn). It will be done.
The Hotel Trades Council launched an advertising campaign against the bill and said on Monday it was ready to defeat Airbnb again.
“If this $80 billion tech company hadn't announced a huge super PAC, Airbnb's new legal battle wouldn't have happened. They've tried this before, but each time, the dollar amount is Their money didn't impact elected officials who know they can't do it, but it does impact voters who are concerned about the negative impact short-term rentals have on affordable housing and public safety. ” he said. HTC spokesperson Austin Shafran said:
