Make airbnb legal in all of Arizona
Donation protected
I'm a hotelier and an airbnb superhost. I believe that airbnb, the sharing economy, and micro-entrepreneurism are the future. I believe all property owners should have the right to use their properties for short term rentals. However, in Arizona most HOAs and some cities prohibit your use of your property for short-term rentals.
The money that I'm raising is a portion of the estimated $150,000 required to fight the good fight and ensure that airbnb is legal in the entire state of Arizona. I've already spent quite a bit of my own money fighting a lawsuit which is now in the state court of appeals.
I've found a lobbyist who has an impeccable record, who has never lost a single bill - only 5 of his bills didn't pass on the first attempt, but passed the following session. He only takes causes that he believes in and causes that he knows he can get passed into law.
The short of it is that this bill would prevent the state of Arizona, any counties, cities, or even HOAs from enacting minimum rental terms and specifically prohibit restrictions on short term rentals.
Face it - the fears are unfounded. Some people say they don't want strangers around, but then order pizza delivery or Chinese delivery, or have contractors and repairmen visit their properties. Some have family, friends, friends of friends and even strangers come for dinner, a party, or a visit of a few days. Some have dates stay overnight for just one night, boyfriends/girlfriends for a while, fiances live with them - all without being on a lease.
The benefits are significant. airbnb enables people to partake in micro-entrepreneurism to help pay the bills when times get tough, reducing foreclosures. airbnb enables people to earn enough money to not have to work a traditional job, thereby reducing unemployment and opening up a job for someone else to have. airbnb enables people to rent out their places while on vacation, and in many cases paying for that dream vacation entirely with airbnb revenue, without dipping into savings or using credit cards. airbnb is a great way for people to keep their places in magazine-quality condition, free of pests, which is great if you're a neighbor. airbnb also means that if you have a bad person stay in your place, they're only there for a short while, unlike a tenant who signs a 12 month lease that all of your neighbors are stuck with.
For the hotel industry, which I'm a part of as the owner of a 4-star 105-room boutique hotel, airbnb means that cities have more inventory of rooms to attract bigger events and conventions, Super Bowls, Comic-Cons, etc., etc. without overbuilding hotel rooms, which means hotels do fine during peak seasons, but suffer even more during off seasons.
Homeowners should love airbnb, even if they're not airbnb hosts... increased incomes result in increased property values through capitalized valuation.
Realtors love airbnb as well... it means more people buying more homes which means more business for them. It's great for the housing economy - from home sales to home builders to contractors and suppliers involved in renovating properties.
But most importantly, the end result is that cities and states can earn significant tax revenues, helping to reduce property taxes and keep sales taxes lower... and people have more money in their pockets in which to support local businesses... the money made most likely makes it right into local bars, cafes, restaurants, retail shops, cultural and sporting events, and more.
Everyone wins. Please help me to make Arizona the first state where airbnb cannot be prohibited. If I can get a little financial support, I'll kick in the rest... as I've said before this effort is costing around $150,000 and I'm going to pick up the rest of the tab if I cannot reach my goal. This issue is that important to me... and to many people who might need to fall back on airbnb to help them survive and thrive in this new sharing economy.
Sincerely,
Ben Bethel
airbnb SuperHost
Owner/GM of The Clarendon Hotel and Spa
The money that I'm raising is a portion of the estimated $150,000 required to fight the good fight and ensure that airbnb is legal in the entire state of Arizona. I've already spent quite a bit of my own money fighting a lawsuit which is now in the state court of appeals.
I've found a lobbyist who has an impeccable record, who has never lost a single bill - only 5 of his bills didn't pass on the first attempt, but passed the following session. He only takes causes that he believes in and causes that he knows he can get passed into law.
The short of it is that this bill would prevent the state of Arizona, any counties, cities, or even HOAs from enacting minimum rental terms and specifically prohibit restrictions on short term rentals.
Face it - the fears are unfounded. Some people say they don't want strangers around, but then order pizza delivery or Chinese delivery, or have contractors and repairmen visit their properties. Some have family, friends, friends of friends and even strangers come for dinner, a party, or a visit of a few days. Some have dates stay overnight for just one night, boyfriends/girlfriends for a while, fiances live with them - all without being on a lease.
The benefits are significant. airbnb enables people to partake in micro-entrepreneurism to help pay the bills when times get tough, reducing foreclosures. airbnb enables people to earn enough money to not have to work a traditional job, thereby reducing unemployment and opening up a job for someone else to have. airbnb enables people to rent out their places while on vacation, and in many cases paying for that dream vacation entirely with airbnb revenue, without dipping into savings or using credit cards. airbnb is a great way for people to keep their places in magazine-quality condition, free of pests, which is great if you're a neighbor. airbnb also means that if you have a bad person stay in your place, they're only there for a short while, unlike a tenant who signs a 12 month lease that all of your neighbors are stuck with.
For the hotel industry, which I'm a part of as the owner of a 4-star 105-room boutique hotel, airbnb means that cities have more inventory of rooms to attract bigger events and conventions, Super Bowls, Comic-Cons, etc., etc. without overbuilding hotel rooms, which means hotels do fine during peak seasons, but suffer even more during off seasons.
Homeowners should love airbnb, even if they're not airbnb hosts... increased incomes result in increased property values through capitalized valuation.
Realtors love airbnb as well... it means more people buying more homes which means more business for them. It's great for the housing economy - from home sales to home builders to contractors and suppliers involved in renovating properties.
But most importantly, the end result is that cities and states can earn significant tax revenues, helping to reduce property taxes and keep sales taxes lower... and people have more money in their pockets in which to support local businesses... the money made most likely makes it right into local bars, cafes, restaurants, retail shops, cultural and sporting events, and more.
Everyone wins. Please help me to make Arizona the first state where airbnb cannot be prohibited. If I can get a little financial support, I'll kick in the rest... as I've said before this effort is costing around $150,000 and I'm going to pick up the rest of the tab if I cannot reach my goal. This issue is that important to me... and to many people who might need to fall back on airbnb to help them survive and thrive in this new sharing economy.
Sincerely,
Ben Bethel
airbnb SuperHost
Owner/GM of The Clarendon Hotel and Spa
Organizer
Ben Bethel
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ