The on-demand industry is not only affecting employment and workers, but also consumers and communities. One particular segment of the on-demand industry, the short-term rental of homes as hotel rooms via Airbnb, HomeAway, FlipKey and a number of others, is already having significant negative impacts on cities and neighborhoods. Short-term rentals worsen Silicon Valley’s housing crisis by taking land that was planned, zoned and developed as housing and converting it in part or in whole to a hotel.

It is important to note that in most cities in California, commercial short-term rentals of residential property are illegal unless specific legislation has been enacted to allow them. Like many other businesses in the on-demand industry, short-term rental companies have for the most part moved forward in flagrant violation of local laws and standards.

The harm being done to our communities as a result of short-term rentals can no longer be ignored. City, state and federal government must move forward on this issue. There is no value in “innovation” that consists of finding new ways to push the costs of doing business onto workers, communities and taxpayers. These damaging practices need to be reviewed with an eye for defending workers’ rights, safeguarding both consumers and communities, and ensuring a fair and a level playing field for all businesses.

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