“Airbnb is a lot like Uber and Lyft in that it exploits loopholes in perfectly reasonable laws and regulations to let people pretend they’re operating legitimate businesses.”
“Perfectly reasonable laws”, huh?
There is a big difference between regulations that actually protect public safety and laws designed to prop up non-competitive business practices implemented by crony capitalists. Because that is EXACTLY what these laws are about.
It has become too expensive to start a small business in many places in this nation. They are being regulated to death.
As a result, only businesses with billion dollar war chests can survive, which is why Lyft, Uber, and Airbnb are still in business. And even they cannot survive in some cities because of bureaucracy.
Even the oppressive Roman government that tried to kill Jesus as a baby did not regulate private home ownership to the point where Jesus had no place to be born.
All 3 of the businesses you cited have mechanisms in place to vet both buyers and sellers of services through their platforms. When local communities have existing zoning regulations or deed restrictions, property buyers understand this when they buy. When the government adds new restrictions it robs property owners of their rights.
Seeing these rights as “loopholes” sounds a lot like big government liberal speak.
When local communities have existing zoning regulations or deed restrictions, property buyers understand this when they buy. When the government adds new restrictions it robs property owners of their rights.
A recent study in New York City indicated that 64% of the housing units were occupied by renters, not owners. So any principles related to "property owners" goes right out the window in that case. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of these properties are covered by lease terms that prohibit or severely restrict sub-letting, anyway.
The remaining 36% probably includes a very large number of condominiums or co-ops, where the occupants may be "owners" but have already signed away many of their rights as property owners when they bought into that arrangement.
I'd be curious to know how many people in New York are really affected by this stupid law.
And all three of them will not hesitate to turn around and use the power of government -- that they complain about today when they're trying to get a foothold in the market -- to keep out new competitors in the future.
If you think that sounds outrageous, consider this: Uber has recently signed an agreement with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) that requires Uber to operate pretty much like an ordinary, regulated limousine company in NYC. Uber and TLC are now partners in a legal battle to keep Lyft out of New York City.