A message to Air BnB from the hosts of New Orleans

[Michelle4502]

Hi all, especially our New Orleans co-hosts. This a.m. Council Member JP Morrell posted on IG a very clear indication about where this lawsuit Air BnB decided to launch is going to end up. Air BnB has decided to fight the request that they as a platform regulate illegal listings and keep these hosts from re-listing. Seems like a simple request- if they can't provide a legit permit number they should not be on the website and if they violate the law they should be banned from using Air BnB's platform. Any business should comply with local laws and it was a compromise the City Council of N.O. made so that we could continue to host guests in our city. With the launch of this court case, the Council has made it very clear that any pushback on the regulations they just passed a year ago would be a breach of this compromise that endangered N.O. neighborhoods and THERE WOULD BE A FULL STR BAN.

This is how I manage, as a single gig worker in her 40s, to pay my mortgage so I can save for retirement and stop working 50 gd jobs. I work in events and festivals for the culture of my city, to provide people hospitality, I give tours to provide tourists a glimpse of what our city can be. Air BnB has the absolute nerve to take all the ability away from me to do what I want with my home because this City Council can't afford to do right by it's own homeowners. I've had my house for 3 years and for 2 of those years, I have watched the city and a corporation have a pissing contest about how I can plan my life. If Air BnB wants to continue making money off the homeowners of New Orleans, and it is PLENTY of money, they will drop this lawsuit - this City Council is more concerned with how they appear to be helping than what is right for the people who financially invested in it.