I understand why people think this is a violation of their God-given rights, but 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.
“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.
It’s not fun living next to noisy partying weekenders. Sadly, half the houses on our street are listed on a weekend rental site. This trend coincidentally started about 8 years ago. It’s the only way the owners can keep up with property taxes rising 10% each year for the past 25+ years. Ha, y’all just thought Texas didn’t have high taxes. Surprise!