Post by High Priestess on Dec 4, 2015 15:44:56 GMT
THis article advocates the construction of youth hostels in New York City, as a way to provide housing for young travellers in NYC that is "legal"
www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151203/OPINION/151209960/banning-youth-hostels-was-an-accident-thats-helped-airbnb-the-city-should-reverse-course
"New Yorkers don’t need a reminder of the affordability crisis striking our city, as they see it each day. People around our city are paying much more for everything: food, child care and especially housing.
Nowhere is the shortage of affordable housing more apparent than in Manhattan, as well as in parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Every day people are suffering from the skyrocketing rents it causes. And the situation is only getting worse.
In a market economy, prices are dictated by available supply vs. current demand. With a recent finding that Airbnb lists some 27,000 family residential units in New York City—listings that were on average made available for 247 days per year—it doesn’t take an economist to see how Airbnb is significantly accelerating our affordable housing crisis.
I am not opposed to the so-called sharing economy. Almost since the moment of our founding, our city has embraced innovation. Airbnb’s entrepreneurial spirit is a welcome addition to our city’s diverse and vibrant mix of business and industry.
But Airbnb must acknowledge that it isn’t just a part of the sharing economy. It must be part of a fair economy as well.
To that end, the NYC City Council has proposed a solution: once again legalizing the construction, licensing and regulation of youth hostels in our city. I am sponsoring a bill to accomplish this.
Back in 2010, state legislation amending our city’s Multiple Dwelling Law and Administrative Code unwittingly caused the elimination of some 50 youth hostels—unintentionally giving companies like Airbnb a veritable lock on the market for cheap lodging for visitors to our city.
The law barring the expansion of youth hostels doesn’t only limit competition for apartment-gobbling companies like Airbnb. Each year it costs our city some 2 million total bed nights for young travelers visiting New York.
With global youth travel projected to soon make up roughly 25% of all international travel, New York City needs to act now or lose billions of dollars in potential revenue. Without reasonably-priced accommodations, young travelers will continue to sidestep the Big Apple or hunt for illegal apartment rentals through Airbnb, worsening our affordability crisis.
My legislation offers a safe, affordable option for youth visiting our city, while removing much of the demand for the illegal apartment rentals offered by Airbnb. This simple solution is part of an effort to increase the supply of available apartments and make rents for New Yorkers more affordable.
Bringing back safe, affordable, licensed and regulated youth hostels to commercial districts across New York City can help pave the road between a share economy and an economy that is fair for all New York families.
www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151203/OPINION/151209960/banning-youth-hostels-was-an-accident-thats-helped-airbnb-the-city-should-reverse-course
"New Yorkers don’t need a reminder of the affordability crisis striking our city, as they see it each day. People around our city are paying much more for everything: food, child care and especially housing.
Nowhere is the shortage of affordable housing more apparent than in Manhattan, as well as in parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Every day people are suffering from the skyrocketing rents it causes. And the situation is only getting worse.
In a market economy, prices are dictated by available supply vs. current demand. With a recent finding that Airbnb lists some 27,000 family residential units in New York City—listings that were on average made available for 247 days per year—it doesn’t take an economist to see how Airbnb is significantly accelerating our affordable housing crisis.
I am not opposed to the so-called sharing economy. Almost since the moment of our founding, our city has embraced innovation. Airbnb’s entrepreneurial spirit is a welcome addition to our city’s diverse and vibrant mix of business and industry.
But Airbnb must acknowledge that it isn’t just a part of the sharing economy. It must be part of a fair economy as well.
To that end, the NYC City Council has proposed a solution: once again legalizing the construction, licensing and regulation of youth hostels in our city. I am sponsoring a bill to accomplish this.
Back in 2010, state legislation amending our city’s Multiple Dwelling Law and Administrative Code unwittingly caused the elimination of some 50 youth hostels—unintentionally giving companies like Airbnb a veritable lock on the market for cheap lodging for visitors to our city.
The law barring the expansion of youth hostels doesn’t only limit competition for apartment-gobbling companies like Airbnb. Each year it costs our city some 2 million total bed nights for young travelers visiting New York.
With global youth travel projected to soon make up roughly 25% of all international travel, New York City needs to act now or lose billions of dollars in potential revenue. Without reasonably-priced accommodations, young travelers will continue to sidestep the Big Apple or hunt for illegal apartment rentals through Airbnb, worsening our affordability crisis.
My legislation offers a safe, affordable option for youth visiting our city, while removing much of the demand for the illegal apartment rentals offered by Airbnb. This simple solution is part of an effort to increase the supply of available apartments and make rents for New Yorkers more affordable.
Bringing back safe, affordable, licensed and regulated youth hostels to commercial districts across New York City can help pave the road between a share economy and an economy that is fair for all New York families.