Two referendums on Portland’s ballot address short-term rentals.
Question B will outlaw most short-term rentals. It will hurt Portland’s economy, force Mainers to sell island homes that have been in their families for generations and make life more difficult for middle-class property owners who depend on the extra income they receive from short-term rentals. It will not decrease rents or create housing. Question B is bad policy that voters should reject again, as they did two years ago.
This time, we have a better alternative. Question A recognizes that properly regulated, locally owned and operated short-term rentals are important to Portland’s economy. It strengthens the city’s short-term rental rules by prohibiting corporate investors from owning short-term rentals, and by promoting local ownership. It protects tenants from being evicted so an apartment can be turned into a short-term rental.
Question A is smart policy that will keep Portland local and benefit the people who call it home.
Paul Waring
Portland
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.