Shared: San Francisco Citywide Coalition says "No" to Proposed Chiu Legislation (SFAA)

By the San Francisco Apartment Association

The Voice of Property Owners in San Francisco

Citywide coalition says "no" to proposed Chiu legislation

The San Francisco Apartment Association is part of a broad coalition holding a press conference against the use of Airbnb and other travel websites in residential apartment buildings. We are convening on the steps of City Hall at 10 AM on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 to ask President of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu to withdraw his legislation, which would allow for transient use of our dwindling residential housing stock. SFAA needs you to attend and show support against this legislation.

San Francisco Apartment Association News Release

SAN FRANCISCO CITYWIDE COALITION SAYS NO TO PROPOSED CHIU LEGISLATION

Board of Supervisors trying to convert residential housing to short-term rentals

Press conference Tuesday April 29, 2014 Steps of City Hall at 10:00 am

San Francisco -- Organizations representing usually divergent interests ranging from tenants to landlords, and from hotel workers to the hospitality industry have joined forces with neighborhood and homeowner associations to oppose legislation introduced by Supervisor David Chiu to legalize the short term rentals of residential property throughout San Francisco.

“In the face of an unprecedented housing crisis, Supervisor Chiu’s legislation to legalize the short term rentals of residential property will only exacerbate the housing crisis. This practice is detrimental to our rent-controlled housing stock”, said Janan New, Executive Director of the San Francisco Apartment Association.

“Our studies have shown that with over 10,000 units of housing being rented out over Airbnb, HomeAway and other websites this practice is having a negative impact on hotel workers and San Francisco’s hospitality industry”, said Mike Casey, President of UNITE HERE Local 2.

“The proposed legislation would rezone the entire city from residential zoning to commercial zoning in one fell swoop. We hear complaints from almost every neighborhood about the detrimental effects of short term rentals on the quality of life of tenants and residents” said Judy Berkowitz, President of the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods.

"Supervisors Chiu's legislation would repeal hard won controls on Single Resident Occupancy housing, threatens current affordable housing provisions for over 30,000 permanently affordable units, would transform newly approved "in-law units" into high priced motel rooms and make "below market rate" units lifetime luxury hotels. It is the single biggest threat to affordable housing ever proposed by a San Francisco Supervisor” stated longtime affordable housing advocate Calvin Welch.

“Airbnb and other hosting platforms owe the City millions of dollars in unpaid hotel taxes. It is high time that the City collect these taxes which pay for the arts and vital city services and programs. The proposed legislation does not clearly hold Airbnb and similar organizations responsible for collecting and remitting the hotel tax”, said former Supervisor Aaron Peskin.

The expanding coalition is demanding Supervisor Chiu to withdraw his legislation. The press conference will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 on the steps of City Hall at 10:00 am.

# # #

If you are available, please stop by the steps of City Hall tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 10am to show support against Airbnb and similar travel websites, and President Chiu’s legislation.

----------------------------------

This news update was sent to my inbox from the San Francisco Apartment Association, 265 Ivy Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.