Attached are several of the e-mails and
letters that we (PAII, the Virginia B&B Association - Local Governments -
Cities, Towns and Counties) sent to VA Legislators over a three week
period. Virtually every legislator (House Delegate and Senator) received
over 300 or more letters or e-mails and had their voice mails filled at
least once during the three weeks. Many legislators, on key
committees that were going to vote on the Airbnb Legislation, got
many more messages and received personal visits from one or more of
the groups that were working against the Airbnb Legislation. Finally,
multiple speakers spoke against the Airbnb Legislation at every committee that
was going to consider or vote on the Bill(s).
The effort was coordinated by VRLTA (they have
paid lobbyists, we don’t) with very active participation from all the other groups,
especially PAII and BBAV and Local Governments. It was absolutely
essential that B&Bs were part of this effort as it instantly counters the
Airbnb message that it is the giant hotel industry versus some poor Grandmother
trying to make the mortgage payments by renting out a room through
Airbnb. Getting B&Bs to participate helps send the message that
it is the $25 Billion Dollar Airbnb Goliath that is beating up on the real
(Legal) Mom and Pop B&Bs.
Finally, get the media involved. Initiate
or respond to every article, letter to the editor, Facebook, twitter or
blog post. Don't let any Airbnb favorable comment go unanswered.
In addition to the e-mails that provided
information about Airbnb and the Bills and provided the rationale needed to
vote against the Airbnb Legislation, there was a parallel campaign that flooded
the legislators with every possible article that told the truth about Airbnb –
like that they can’t be trusted and that there is a serious problem with safety
and security at some Airbnb hosts. A few slides (from AH&LA)
that show some of the headlines are also attached. You can just do a
search on “Airbnb” to find a lot more.
Airbnb runs a very effective campaign that
stresses how many millions in taxes they will collect for, and pay, the
state. Not only does their approach hide the fact that the Airbnb
Bill(s) clearly discriminate against Legal B&Bs, but it is a hard thing for
the legislators to turn down the big check that is on the end of the hook – and
that usually “hides” the “hook”. The “hook” iis the lack of
transparency into who the hosts are, where they are, the fact that the Airbnb
Hosts do not have to comply with Federal, State and Local Government Laws,
Codes, Regulations or Ordinances, that Airbnb will never collect and pay all
the taxes really due and that Local Governments will not be able to protect
their citizens, and visitors, or enforce the Laws, Regulations, and Codes, or
collect all the taxes and fees due (that Legal B&Bs have to pay) because
they will have no visibility into what is happening in their communities.
The lopsided vote
(90-8-1) in Virginia to send the Airbnb Bill back for additional study and to
require transparency, is proof that once legislators are made aware of the
inherent unfairness of the Airbnb approach, learn of the potential lack of
safety and security for guests because Airbnb does not mandate compliance with
Federal, State and Local Laws, Codes and Regulations, and recognize that local
Governments have both a need and a right to protect their communities and
collect appropriate taxes, that they will do the right thing for their states,
just as they did for Virginia.
Another valuable point
to “ask” your elected officials is: “Do you really want a third party,
commercial company, which has had questions raised about their openness and trustworthiness[JN1] , to collect and pay
your taxes.”
As you know PAII will be happy to assist you in
your efforts, Contact Kris Ullmer at PAII.Org if you need anything else. kris@paii.org
Thanks- To Senator or Delegate
To a Senator
E-mail after Finance Committee passed Airbnb Legislation
Airbnb Statement for for VA Legislature
Virginia has Spoken
IAM Position Statement
Letter to VA Senate Finance Committee
Message to Delegates (Appropriations)
Letter or E-mail to Legislator
Response to Letter to Editor
How many of those do you suppose abide by the same laws and regulations you do? How many do you think are leeching your guests and pocketing your proceeds -- without paying a penny of tax on the transaction? 
