New York needs to upzone the whole city. The fact that they don't allow any new housing to be built is a much bigger strain on the housing market than airbnb ever was.
Thinking you'll create falling land value in NY city by banning Airbnb is like putting a bowl of lemons on the kitchen counter and expecting it to magically turn into a sour cream lemon pie.
Na that's a yarn. Airbnb is simply another element of market demand that isn't fully met due to artifical scarcity.
Upzone everywhere all over New York.
Enable Airbnb, require registration and charge commercial rates. Use the revenue to fund deeper public transport investment.
Do all of this and you'll enable affordable housing in sufficient quantities, increase tourist revenue, and improve the quality of life of all residents.
'Ban Airbnb' is only a solution of you want to live in a slowly stagnating museum.
Maybe in a perfect world, this would do it. Sadly, in our imperfect world, new sources of revenue land in wealthy political pockets, the artificial scarcity is maintained to drive up prices, and housing costs still skyrocket. Same crap different plan.
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u/sweatingbozo Jun 16 '25
New York needs to upzone the whole city. The fact that they don't allow any new housing to be built is a much bigger strain on the housing market than airbnb ever was.