Airbnb has launched a Super PAC ready to raise up to $5 million to help elect city and state candidates willing to support short-term rentals.
The online rental company's new political arm — Keeping New York Affordable — is poised to back candidates in more than a dozen City Council primaries next June, The Post has learned.
Support for Airbnb will continue until 2026 and favors candidates who allow homeowners to rent out their homes short-term on its app, in the face of the hotel industry — particularly the Hotel Trades Council Federation — which sees short-term rentals as competition for tourists.
The company suffered a crushing defeat in 2023 when the City Council passed an ordinance imposing strict regulations on home sharing — forcing Airbnb to remove tens of thousands of Big Apple rentals from its site, sending traditional hotel prices soaring.
The law — which requires hosts to be present when guests are home — has devastated the short-term home rental industry.
But as The Post reported on Sunday, Airbnb is fighting its way back to New York — through politics.
The company is pushing to pass a new bill introduced by Councilwoman Farrah Lewis (D-Brooklyn) and supported by Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) that would “restore short-term rental rights to neighborhood tiny homeowners” and pave the way for a citywide resurgence. .
The bill's sponsors include Assemblymembers Sylvina Brooks Powers (D-Queens), Kevin Reilly (D-Bronx), Dianna Ayala (D-Bronx/Manhattan), and Mercedes Narcisse (D-Brooklyn).
The Hotel Trades Council launched an ad campaign opposing the bill — and said Monday it was ready to defeat Airbnb again.
“It wouldn't be another legislative fight over Airbnb without the $80 billion tech company announcing a big-money political action committee. They've tried this before and every time their money hasn't swayed elected officials who know dollars don't vote, but their constituents.” Those who care about the negative impact short-term rentals have on affordable housing and public safety do so.
