NYC Airbnb opponent owns four homes

Thanks for the posts about Feinstein's husband and her stand on outlawing airbnb in S.F. I recently read all of the posts in an airbnb survey asking Hosts about how they spend their airbnb earnings. I found it to be interesting with regards to my own beliefs that airbnb Hosts for the most part are able to maintain their property at a higher level by numerous upgrades to their listing. I don't see this as being anything other than sound economic development and re-investment in the neighborhood or community where the listing/ Host lives. This also points out to me that it is one more solid reason why airbnb should make a separate platform for multiple, commercial, absentee host listing. The commercial listings that have suddenly loomed large in the airbnb world seem to have escalated the negative controversy about airbnb and its sustainability. Not to mention that the multiple listings have been the bane of the most problematic experiences from Guests' disappointment, to egregious behaviors by Guests who seem to have taken this kind of listing as implied permission to be as destructive as possible with no accountability. Her statement about ruining the integrity of zoning in a residential neighborhood would not hold water if airbnb would get out of the commercial absentee host business as I perceive it to be the single most eroding factor of the airbnb philosophy apart from lazy, rule breaking Hosts

So it was a bit of a jolt to see Feinstein take to the pages of the Chronicle to call on Mayor Ed Lee to veto the recently-passed legislation that would legalize Airbnb in San Francisco. Claiming it was a "shortsighted action that would destroy the integrity of zoning throughout San Francisco, allowing commercial and hotel use in residential areas throughout the city," the Senator urged Mayor Lee to veto the bill. Feinstein would have preferred for the legislation to have banned short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods entirely, or at least restrict to a larger degree than the final bill did. 
And then this from airbnb: Airbnb had no comment on Ward, but issued a statement about the legislature limiting Airbnb in New York.“This is a question of whose side are you on — for the middle class or against the middle class,” the statement said.
While I was very glad to see that airbnb had closed down over 2,000 illegal listings in NYC it was very revealing that yes; there is a problem. I was dismayed by the comment about which side you are on, decrying the middle class banner. No wonder we have so many problems with entitled Guests as even our own millionaire owners are ready to reel out the "helping the middle class!" I don't even know where to start with this dialectic, really? Apart from changing their logo to a statue of Marx or Engel, I can't imagine how we have gone from one philosophy to another over night with the same rich elite people holding the reins?

I know it's probably just me and I'll take all the hits from this post. Yes, I am an idealist with a whole lot of Jamesion pragmatism thrown in for a good ole' authentic ranch hand mentality that has served me well for more than 6 decades. People who know how to work with their hands will always find a way to survive and shape whatever meaning they can make with their lives and not just on the fringes of the middle class.  So is the implication that the only reason why Hosts undertake this social anthropology experiment is because they are middle class? While I am completely comfortable being included in whatever class people or society deem to see me, it has little or nothing to do with why I Host much less my class status. Is it OK to say that I Host because I really enjoy it, difficult guests and all?

Deb, I could use a dose of your wisdom and insight into this issue, or should I have never read Organization Vs. Freedom? Thank you for having this forum so that borderline, introverted hermits like myself can be a part of something larger than the small, rural, remote, conservative place that I call home. Happy Hosting.
Eloise at Happy Trails

Eloise...I wasn't sure I understand your query/perplexity...are you confused about why the focus on class....the comments about middle class people, in the NYC situation? What did you mean about being dismayed by the comment about which side are you on, decrying the middle class banner? I didn't understand your question.

As I see it....all this is politics. NY is playing politics, Airbnb is playing politics. The founders/decision makers of Airbnb can't just say what they think as they are subject to political forces. They have to play those forces as best they can, angle their arguments towards the political forces that be, spin things in their interest.

Portraying Airbnb as a company that helps the middle class is something that works well, politically. The middle class need a leg up these days...the middle class own homes, but often can't well afford life with homes these days. They can get a bit of help with Airbnb. This sells better than saying that Airbnb helps the millionaire landlord or real estate tycoon who has 15 vacation rental properties at Lake Tahoe or in the South of France listed on Airbnb. It also sells better than saying Airbnb helps the working class tenant who rents their apartment out on Airbnb in violation of their rental agreement. In fact most hosts I meet and know in the host community do fall into the "middle" class realm...whether they rent out a room in their home or an entire unit or a couple separate units.

Glad to help out all hermits with this forum! I know it's nice for hermits to be able to keep in contact with others through the web...nice to be able to be distant, but also close...close with distance. Feels comfortable that way for us introverts.