Okay, brace yourselves everyone, here’s the low-down:
–
Airbnb’s Dynamic Duo Plan
Everyone’s favorite vacation getaway platform, Airbnb, is levitating towards a robust image in regulatory circles as it forms its very own Housing Council. Yes, you heard it right! They are apparently under the impression that having a Council round table would somehow help them help us with our housing issues, which is sort of like inviting a shark to help at a fish fry.
–
The “Who’s Who” of Council Members
Get ready for a parade of real estate heavyweights taking their seats at the council. The Airbnb Housing Council will constitute a diverse crew of policymakers, housing experts, and community leaders. Just hoping they have a few interior decorators mixed in to spice things up!
–
Advising to Address Affordability and Inventory
Their mission? To lend their wise counsel to Airbnb on policies and initiatives, aiming to tackle housing affordability and inventory issues. Sounds noble, perhaps even heroic, doesn’t it? Well, let’s not get carried away, folks. They are doing what any business does, looking out for their own bottom line…err… I meant helping the community.
–
Face Saving or Genuine Initiative?
After much public criticism and legal tussles, Airbnb is donning the cape of a social worker. Let’s just point out, their timing seems suspiciously like they don’t want to be the villain anymore, but hey, who are we to judge?
Now, on to my fiery hot take on this news, laced with a dose of sarcasm and a pinch of humor.
My Hot Take:
Ah, Airbnb, the ‘bad boy’-turned-‘responsible citizen’ of the hospitality sector. After gobbling up legit residential properties to spit out vacation listings — thereby adding fuel to the affordable housing crisis — they now suddenly develop a sense of responsibility and form a Housing Council. How sweet! And what could be more reassuring than a company in a major lawsuit launching a Council to tackle housing issues their business model helped create?
My honest opinion? This move is the equivalent of a graffiti artist setting up an anti-wall defacing alliance. Meaning, it’s posturing folks, pure and simple. But hey, I’ll put on my optimist hat and hope for some genuine efforts in their venture. Maybe the Council will help the company mend its ways… or at least, cleaning up the graffiti, if you catch my drift.
So, let’s keep a close watch on this couch-surfing giant’s sudden leap of conscience while we chuckle at the mild irony of this whole charade.‘Stay tuned, world!
P.S.:
Jokes apart, if Airbnb does succeed in combatting housing issues, it would not just be a corporate miracle but also an end to a long chapter in the book of public criticism. We’re not holding our breath, but we’re watching, Airbnb, we’re watching…
Original article: https://www.inman.com/2024/01/19/airbnb-launches-new-council-to-address-us-housing-crisis/
