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Baltimore and Airbnb - Interesting Commentary:

Kimberly WigginsFollow
Dec 5
Baltimore may have 99 problems, but AirBnB’s aren’t one of them.
When I moved to Baltimore I worked for a corporate bank and had a boyfriend. I rehabbed a home at the end of the block that I rented on for a year and planned to live happily ever after. But as I learned more about Baltimore’s systemic issues, I yearned to do more than suck souls at my bank. I ventured into the non-profit world for half the money, but I was a two income home. Oh, then we broke up. I struggled and then someone suggest I rent out my basement. I got a few tenants, but that was sporadic and a little scary at times because my main avenue was Craigslist. Someone told me about AirBnB and it saved my house and my life’s work.

I have a book in my apartment that describes hidden gems in my neighborhood. I have chairs in a bag in the unit and let my guest know when there are park activities for them to use them. I often get reviews that thank me for my food recommendations. The last page of my book has instructions for check out and it says “Think good thoughts about Baltimore.” People have left me notes and reviews that they have nothing but good thoughts of Baltimore after staying in my place. One of my tenants decided to rent a new apartment in Fells Point. She signed a year lease.

When I first heard about proposed AirBnB legislation, I was worried again about losing my home. Then the legislation was amended so it wouldn’t affect me. I doubt I will ever have the money to purchase another property working in the non-profit field (good thing I love my job). My AirBnB is keeping me afloat. But just because the legislation won’t shut down my unit because it is in the home where I also live, I can’t just ignore how it will affect other AirBnB host in the city. I also can’t ignore how it will affect Baltimore. One argument is what AirBnB’s have done to places like NY,DC, and SF. I hate to state the obvious, but we are not like those cities. When our transit doesn’t work, our housing numbers are flat, or we don’t attract jobs, people are quick to point out that we are not like other cities. But when we have an area that is growing, we seek to shut it down and state it is because we could become like those cities. Can we stop cutting off our nose to spite our face?

Reducing available housing, unwanted AirBnB guests in a neighborhood, “investors” buying up property to convert to AirBnB’s are all unsupported narratives. It is all whistle blowing that seems to only support hotels. They are the only people that could possibly benefit from this legislation. But guess what? The lack of an AirBnB option doesn’t cause someone to stay at the Marriott. It causes someone to stay at a hotel by the airport and have a crab cake a G&M and breakfast at Double T, not Koko’s and Water for Chocolate (both are in my book). That will be their Maryland experience and Baltimore will stay The Wire.

AirBnB hosts are fine with paying the same tax that hotels pay. The other aspects of Short Term Rentals Regulation (18–0189) is bad for Baltimore. The big investors are building development with tax breaks, while AirBnB investors are people maintaining a few homes and show visitors the Baltimore they love. Baltimore’s success will come from supporting growth from the ground up. If our leaders continue to support legislation that clearly favors the top, AirBnB’s won’t be the only thing that goes away.

Please vote NO on Short Term Rentals Regulation (18–0189). We are watching.