Introduction to the ‘Save Our Services’ Campaign
The ‘Save Our Services’ campaign has been making waves in Los Angeles, with fliers and canvassers spreading the word about the city’s budget crisis and a proposed solution: expanding short-term rentals to include second homes. When Marni Lustig, a fashion photographer, saw a flier for the campaign, she didn’t immediately understand what it was about. However, upon reading about the potential for expanding short-term rentals, she realized the campaign applied directly to her, as she already rents her Pico-Robertson home on Airbnb.
The Campaign’s Proposal
The campaign proposes allowing a limited number of people to rent their second homes to travelers, which supporters claim could generate about $80 million in tax revenue annually. This revenue would come from two streams: an estimated $38 million from the sales tax generated by tourists spending money at local businesses and another $41 million from the transient occupancy tax of 14% on short-term rentals. The city of Los Angeles faced a $1-billion budget shortfall this year, and the financial woes are likely to continue for several years.
Supporters and Opponents
The campaign has a broad coalition of supporters, including unions like Teamsters Local 911 and the business-aligned Central City Assn. However, some notable opponents include the hotel and restaurant workers union Unite Here Local 11 and City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez. Soto-Martínez said he learned of Save Our Services when he came across a flier in his parents’ South L.A. neighborhood and believes that the campaign is using deceptive tactics to gain public sympathy.
Airbnb’s Involvement
Airbnb, the short-term rental giant, is a backer of the campaign, although its name is not explicitly mentioned on the fliers or website. The company confirmed its involvement in the campaign but declined to say whether it has contributed any money. Justin Wesson, senior public policy manager for Airbnb, said that the company has organized a "diverse coalition" for the campaign and will continue to "support practical short-term rental policies that balance the benefits of tourism with community needs."
Registration and Transparency
The campaign does not appear to be registered with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, according to the commission’s website. Anyone who spends $5,000 or more to attempt to influence municipal legislation is required to register with the commission as a "major filer" and report their spending. A commission spokesperson said there was no record of a major filer report from Airbnb after 2016.
Concerns and Criticisms
Critics of Save Our Services argue that Airbnb hosts often evade the transient occupancy tax, and the city should step up its enforcement of the tax instead of opening up more homes for short-term rentals. Randy Renick, executive director of Better Neighbors LA, which focuses on regulating short-term rentals, said that evading the tax is "the fundamental issue," with some Airbnb hosts claiming their residences are outside city limits. Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for Unite Here, said that an increase in short-term rentals would exacerbate the city’s housing shortage by removing units from the long-term market.
Conclusion
The ‘Save Our Services’ campaign has sparked a heated debate in Los Angeles, with supporters arguing that expanding short-term rentals could generate much-needed revenue for the city, while opponents claim that it would worsen the housing crisis and benefit short-term rental companies like Airbnb at the expense of residents. As the campaign continues to gain attention, it remains to be seen whether the City Council will amend the short-term rental ordinance to include second homes.
FAQs
- Q: What is the ‘Save Our Services’ campaign?
A: The ‘Save Our Services’ campaign is a proposal to expand short-term rentals in Los Angeles to include second homes, with the goal of generating revenue to address the city’s budget crisis. - Q: Who supports the campaign?
A: The campaign has a broad coalition of supporters, including unions and business groups, although some notable opponents include the hotel and restaurant workers union Unite Here Local 11 and City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez. - Q: How much revenue could the campaign generate?
A: Supporters claim that the campaign could generate about $80 million in tax revenue annually, from sales tax and transient occupancy tax. - Q: What are the concerns and criticisms of the campaign?
A: Critics argue that Airbnb hosts often evade the transient occupancy tax, and the city should step up its enforcement of the tax instead of opening up more homes for short-term rentals. They also claim that an increase in short-term rentals would exacerbate the city’s housing shortage.
