The hotel industry and allied unions are winning handily as the clock runs out Airbnb's effort to stop approval of their City Council bill, but both sides are playing like they're behind.
The legislation—obligating the tech firm to share the names and addresses attached to each rental on its site with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement—is now sponsored by 44 of the City Council's 51 members, will be voted upon Wednesday and appears to enjoy the de Blasio administration's support. State law bars the rental of an apartment for fewer than 30 days unless a permanent resident remains on site, and the bill would facilitate a crackdown on violators.
Every source Crain's consulted, on both sides of the issue, believed the legislation would become law. But both Airbnb and the ShareBetter Education Fund—a group backed by the Hotel Association, the Hotel Trades Council and activist groups—have continued to ramp up their efforts to win over public opinion as the vote approaches.