New York City, Facing Housing Crisis, Targets Illegal Airbnb Owners

"New York, facing housing crisis, declines to build enough housing."

I just submitted https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2021/12/th..., it's right on target.

“City leaders, after fighting for years to limit the proliferation of illegal short-term rentals, are poised to impose more stringent restrictions on the online platform.”

I am amazed that New Yorkers tolerate leaders that think they have the right to tell them what they can do with their property.

My only issue with AirBnB is skirting around safety standards. Hotels have to follow a majority different set of construction and safety standards for fire, pollution, etc than residential (for good reason).

Are those reasons not related to the number of guests? How is home safety “worse” than hotel?

My guess is that homes have familiarity and owners and long term renters know what they're getting into. I've stayed at an AirBnB which was so heavily divided it probably would've been illegal in the US. (Long, dark, narrow hallways; sudden unmarked steps; no fire alarms; shoddy and confusing locks.)

I've had similar experiences in really really old European hotels :)