EXCLUSIVE City Council wants to join Airbnb fight

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Thursday, May 1, 2014, 3:54 AM

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg The City Council wants in on the state attorney general’s fight with the apartment-sharing website Airbnb.

The City Council wants in on the state attorney general’s fight with the apartment-sharing website Airbnb.

“There’s a lot of concern in the Council about Airbnb’s impact on neighborhoods and housing affordability,” Councilman Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) said.

Airbnb is “getting in the way of affordable housing by making our housing stock . . . into high-priced rentals,” added Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan).

Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Council’s Housing Committee, said he would like to hold a hearing to investigate Airbnb.

Barry Williams/for New York Daily News Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is asking for the names of everyone in the city who rents their apartments through the site.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman already is dueling with Airbnb, asking for the names of everyone in the city who rents their apartments through the site. Schneiderman has said he believes the majority of Airbnb’s city listings are illegal short-term rentals.

Council members are getting information on Airbnb from Josh Gold, political director for the Hotel Trades Council, which represents hotel workers.

The hotel industry has long opposed Airbnb and clamored for the 2010 law that made it illegal to rent out a city apartment by the night.

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