‘Housing should be for New Yorkers’: City Council hears push to end illegal hotels
(AMNY) Dean Moses, September 14, 2021
The Coalition Against Illegal Hotels, City Council Member Ben Kallos and Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried touted a new bill Monday, Sept. 13 aiming to crack down on illegal hotels by creating a mandatory registration system for short-term rentals.
Minutes before the first hearing on City Council Intro. 2309 was set to begin, the Coalition and lawmakers urged passage of the bill which hopes to stop illegal hotel renting to tourists while opening up free housing space for homeless New Yorkers.
“I’ve been a tenant for most of my life and I’m tired of having to compete with tourists for housing in this city, housing should be for New Yorkers, hotels, should be for tourists. It’s as simple as that,” Kallos said Monday, standing alongside advocates in the shadow of City Hall.