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NY Pols: What Is Airbnb Hiding From Us?
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 22, 2014
Modified Apr 22, 2014
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Airbnb
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 22, 2014
Modified Apr 22, 2014
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Airbnb is in court today fighting New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's subpoena for the records of its 15,000 hosts. “In general, the rule is: if you are subpoenaed for information, and you have nothing to hide, you turn it over,” State Senator Liz Krueger said at a press conference today. “When you have something to hide, you refuse to cooperate. And that is what we feel is exactly what’s happening.”
Not always, but yeah, what IS Airbnb hiding? The fact that a cabal of silicon slumlords is making millions of dollars while transforming our tiny, expensive sanctuaries into flophouse collateral damage just so Swiss families can feel like Real New Yorkers and walk home from Katz's?
The AG's office estimates that the top 40 Airbnb hosts in the city have grossed at least $400,000 in the past three years, earning a total of around $35 million.
In a somewhat conciliatory blog post (especially compared to some of his other missives) Airbnb co-founder David Hantman addresses the Airbnb 1%:
But when we examined our community in New York, we found that some property managers weren’t providing a quality, local experience to guests. These hosts weren’t making their neighborhood stronger and they weren’t delivering the kind of hospitality our guests expect and deserve. In some cases, they were making communities worse, not better. We took a hard look at our community in New York to identify these hosts and we took action.
Earlier this year, we began notifying these hosts that they and their more than 2,000 listings would be permanently removed from the Airbnb community. While we are allowing these hosts to support their existing bookings, all are now prohibited from accepting new reservations and if you search for a place to stay in New York, you won’t find these listings.
“Our neighborhoods are in peril right now,” Assemblyman Keith Wright said at the press conference. “People should have a right to know that their neighbor in apartment 2A is not running an illegal brothel. They should have a right to know that the folks in apartment 5C are not dealing drugs."
Or just the right to live in an apartment where the Peace isn't constantly torn asunder with the clatter of rolling suitcases and Tuesday night dance parties. Isn't that precious Peace why we pay $3,200 to live in this sweet Lower East Side walkup?
Tagged
airbnb
eric schneiderman
sharing economy
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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