I just finished reading your excellent article “Islanders at odds over impact of short-term rental proposal” (Aug. 24, Page A1). The only area not fully covered are the unintended consequences to Peaks Island. Those weekly cottage rentals are a major support to all the businesses, including the island grocery store, the restaurants, the coffee shops, the ice cream shops, the major wedding business, the tour business, the souvenir shops, the food trucks, the bike shop and the pizza shop.
The other big loser will be Casco Bay Lines, which depends on those weekly vehicle and passenger tickets from the cottage renters. Then there are all those employees of these businesses, whose jobs will be in jeopardy. To make it, they need that high volume of summer people.
The law of unintended consequences will have a severe toll on Peaks Island.
Larry Davis
Hallowell
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