Dear New Orleans City Council-What about us?-the STR debate

Is it possible that you have overlooked a large number of homeowners who want to earn extra income from renting part of their home on sites like Airbnb?

City Councilperson, JP Morrell says the mayor’s administration has failed to enforce STR permits and Mulligan of the mayor’s office said there’s just way too many to investigate. (Click HERE for the article from The Gambit.)

I have a solution--let homeowners have STR and go after the rest.

We are not the large scale investors who use STR as a cover to essentially have a hotel spread out over 10 or more units around the city.

We are the voters of this city. We are the long term residents. We are the natives of New Orleans and this issue is not one we created. We have a right to benefit from all the income possibilities that our homes provide. And if we have 2 homes in our city and manage them both, we have a right to earn that income in the city we love.

Short Term Rentals have come under fire recently and rightfully so for those large scale investors who prey on tourist areas that they do not call home.

But in your battle against them — you have actually hurt us.