Live data from Hacker News

Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

wired.com

1–10 of 362 posts

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#2
The more I look at AirBnb, it reality it seems like a conspiracy to enable illegal activity (illegal listings, not collecting taxes). I wonder if in the future, a US Attorney or State Attorney General will attempt to bring criminal charges against the principals of the company. The threat of real jail time would do wonders to get their attention.

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#3
Edit, it was shut down because my local area has a rule against bed and breakfasts that aren't located on a main road.

Our Airbnb got shut down after a year by the local government. It wasn't a safety thing, it was a competition thing. Our Red Roof Inn charges 60 a night, but we charged 80 a night.

Our reviews could make me tear up. People saying they had the best stay of their life.

Asking them what they wanted for breakfast, hot tub temp, Nerf guns, and chatting. People loved it.

But we stopped. Government....

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#5

The more I look at AirBnb, it reality it seems like a conspiracy to enable illegal activity (illegal listings, not collecting taxes). I wonder if in the future, a US Attorney or State Attorney General will attempt to bring criminal charges against the principals of the company. The threat of real jail time would do wonders to get their attention.

It's the same kind of regulations arbitrage that powered Uber (& Lyft, though to a lesser extent because at first they tried to make it look like riders/drivers knew each other). The difference here is that the only people who really complained about Uber/Lyft was the taxi industry, which mostly was viewed in a neutral light at best. AirBnb seems to have managed to cause disruption both to the hotel industry as well as people who live near listed properties, both of whom are seen in a more sympathetic light than taxis.

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#7

The more I look at AirBnb, it reality it seems like a conspiracy to enable illegal activity (illegal listings, not collecting taxes). I wonder if in the future, a US Attorney or State Attorney General will attempt to bring criminal charges against the principals of the company. The threat of real jail time would do wonders to get their attention.

The illegal listings is crony capitalism. Hotels don't want to compete.

And tax evasion is a completely different topic, that is not why Airbnbs are shut down. Every industry has tax problems.

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#8

Edit, it was shut down because my local area has a rule against bed and breakfasts that aren't located on a main road. Our Airbnb got shut down after a year by the local government. It wasn't a safety thing, it was a competition thing. Our Red Roof Inn charges 60 a night, but we charged 80 a night. Our reviews could make me tear up. People saying they had the best stay of their life. Asking them what they wanted for…

Perhaps you should try stating the reason it was shut down.

Re: Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments

#9
post #4

Just look at the havoc being reigned on some neighborhoods in Miami Beach during spring break. Specifically the low-scale, residential flamingo park neighborhood of south beach.

Can you elaborate?

Here you go:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/09/travel/airbnb-miami-beach...

> Airbnb and Miami Beach Are at War. Travelers Are Caught in the Crossfire.

> The Florida city, like others around the country, is trying to control the home sharing market. Renters often find out their weekend home is illegal when they get a knock on the door.

Post reply on HN