EW YORK

TAT 
SENATE

ALBANY NEW YORK 12247

 

 

October 18, 2016

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo,

We write to urge you to sign into law. This bill would prohibit advertising
already illegal short-term rentals of Class A multiple dwellings in New York City. This bill is
limited to New York City, and affects only the advertising of units that are located in buildings
of three units or more.

There is a misconception being driven by the bill?s detractors that this bill bans Airbnb. It does
not. It simply gives proper effect to a 2010 law (Chapter 225) that was enacted to prevent the
wholesale and rampant conversiOn of SROs and other residential buildings into commercial
hotels. To reiterate, we are not creating any new illegal activity here. This bill is solely shifting
the focus to deal with advertising, which is the prevailing means of letting these apartments, and
has exponentially grown in the past six years.

Airbnb and similar platforms were not nearly as prevalent in 2010 as they are today. These types
of platforms can assist individuals who are present in their homes the ability to share and receive
payment for renting accommodations. However, renting such units, without being present on a
recurring basis violates the terms of the 2010 law. Simply put, such activity affects the quality of
life in residential neighborhoods and creates public health and safety risks for the non-renting
residents and visitors alike. This bill re?nes the 2010 law by placing the burden of compliance
where it should be, with the individual who chooses to skirt the law.

This bill provides the Attorney General and the Mayor?s Office of Special Enforcement another
tool to enforce the provisions of the 2010 law, which was designed to protect the rights of
residents and give effect to the building and safety requirements and zoning regulations that
currently exist.

Approval of this legislation will ensure the safety and health of the visitors and residents of the
City of New York and we urge you sign it into law.

{b PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Very truly yours,

gage?MM
Wu J. ??nagan 0

Temporary President of the Senate
Majority Leader

(?an 

 

Andrew J. Lanza Catharine Young
State Senator State Senator
Chair, Investigations and Government Operations Chair, Finance
Bill Sponsor

Aug/fag, 

Elizabetr/O?C. Little Martin]: Golden
State Senator State Senator
Chair, Housing, Construction and Community DeveloPment Secretary of Majority Conference

 

I Simcha eldelr

State Senator
Chair, Cities