California
Related: About this forumThe truth behind the Airbnb lies
http://www.48hills.org/2015/10/12/the-truth-behind-the-airbnb-lies/First, let me get this out of the way: You say, Its actually really hard to find the text online and youll see exactly why they dont want you to read the text. Really? Have you ever used Google? I typed text prop F sf in the search bar and hey, heres the text of Prop F! In 20 seconds. (p.s., all that money Airbnb spent on Google ads is working: The No on F link pops up at the top even if you search for Pope Francis. Glad all that money is getting the company something.) I guess you can fault the campaign for not including a link on its website, but to say the text is hard to find is ludicrous....
Ive worked on tenants rights and affordable housing here in the city for about 20 years, and right now, our housing situation is the worst that Ive ever seen. There have been about 10,000 evictions since 2010, most fueled by real estate speculation and the new profit found in renting to high-paying tourists rather than long-term tenants (who have, you know, rights and stuff). Ellis Act, owner move-in, nuisance violations, illegal intimidation you name it and its happening now. Every tenant in the city knows that if he or she has to leave an apartment, their time in San Francisco is over.
I think what I find most fascinating (and troubling) about the discussion around Prop F is how Airbnb and the other 60 or so hosting platform companies get a complete pass on any responsibility for what their business model is doing to neighborhoods and housing markets, and the fact that they intentionally turn a blind eye to the many abusers on their sites who openly break the law (more on that later). Ignoring the law and undoing years of carefully thought out housing regulations isnt an innovation, its simply putting profit over people. This isnt the sharing economy, its the profit economy and right now, Airbnb is profiting off of our housing crisis.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Many in my neighborhood and between that, developers and airbnb rents have tripled.
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)Last edited Thu Oct 15, 2015, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)
These commercials don't mention AirBNB - their sponsorship is in small print, white letters on black background, very hard to read.
The commercials rant about big government, privacy invasions, lawsuits, and elderly people who will somehow be prevented from building inlaw units and cottages. The actors are ethnically diverse, hinting that the extra income earned via AirBNB preserves ethnic diversity when much of this business is being conducted by big landlords and real estate leasing companies.
Worst of all, there is a commercial with Lt. Governor (and former Mayor of SF) Gavin Newsom, endorsing No on F. I'm wondering if there is an ethics problem with this commercial: I've only seen it once, and you would think that the Lt. Governor would be an important endorsement. He speaks quickly, at a bit of a distanve from the camera, as if this was a clip stealthily made on a phone cam while Newsom was talking up some AirBNB lobbyists. Or Newsom might have investments in AirBNB. Maybe the price of this endorsement is a big fat campaign donation. In any case, that commercial is uncomfortable and weird.
People should vote for Prop F just to send AirBNB a message about their misleading commercials and to contest big money in politics. The sharing economy is nothing but organized tax fraud, and in SF its a major driver of the housing crisis to boot.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)A poll shows him among the frontrunners to replace his boss Jerry Brown when the time comes. Now I may have to look elsewhere (or run myself ).
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)is great way to get a mainstream media platform for your ideas.