Call the CA Senate: Support the Thriving Communities And Sharing Economy Act

This Wednesday, May 13, California’s Senate Governmental Organization Committee has a hearing on SB 593 - The Thriving Communities And Sharing Economy Act.

SB 593 will help stop landlords from using Airbnb to convert scarce permanent housing for residents into hotels for tourists, while avoiding the taxes traditional hotels have to pay. The bill will empower cities to enforce local regulations and force short term rental companies to make disclosures as required under local law. That's why tenant advocates working at the local level support this important bill.

Airbnb’s lobbyists are doing everything they can to oppose the bill. The Senate needs to hear from you before Wednesday's hearing.

Here’s what to do:

Call Committee Chairman, Senator Isadore Hall III at (916) 651-4035.
Ask to speak to the Senator and if that is not possible, leave a polite message stating that you support SB 593 and urge him to support the bill.
If you have a chance, leave a longer message. Say something like this:

My name is [NAME] and I’m from [CITY]. I urge Senator Hall to support SB 593 - The Thriving Communities and Sharing Economy Act.

Short term rentals pose a major threat to the supply of affordable rental housing in many California cities. Thousands of rental units are being converted from permanent housing for residents to hotels for tourists, often in violation of local zoning laws and avoiding taxes. Online hosting platforms that make this possible, like AirBnB, currently operate with little accountability.

SB 593 requires online home sharing companies like Airbnb to provide cities with information on which homes are renting out units and the amounts paid for those rentals. It will help ensure Airbnb pays its fair share and keep landlords from using the platform where zoning laws don’t permit it. That will help cities protect affordable housing and provide the funds needed to keep our neighborhoods safe, public schools strong and parks open.
Use the form on this page to tell us how it went! That way we can make sure your message is heard again when we head to the committee hearing this Wednesday.

We have less than 48 hours to make a big difference for California’s cities and affordable housing. Call Senator Hall right now!

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marla knight commented 2015-05-12 16:21:31 -0700

the Senator was not available but left message personally with the aide. told him I was from north beach and many units were being illegally converted and rented as Air BnB vcation rentals and it was devastating the neighborhood and other ’hoods.
marla knight commented 2015-05-12 16:21:30 -0700

the Senator was not available but left message personally with the aide. told him I was from north beach and many units were being illegally converted and rented as Air BnB vcation rentals and it was devastating the neighborhood and other ’hoods.
George Gutekunst commented 2015-05-12 12:17:08 -0700

Hard to tell. I registered my strong support for SB593
Kimberly Rohrbach commented 2015-05-12 12:09:47 -0700

We’ll wait and see. I called urging Hall to support SB 593.
Katherin Canton commented 2015-05-12 10:19:35 -0700

I left a message to share our support for SB 593 and our zip, I was calling on behalf of Housing Rights Committee of SF, I am posting this call to action on our FB.
jean balibrere commented 2015-05-12 09:30:54 -0700

left a message with senator hall’s office.
Maria Wabl commented 2015-05-12 09:20:16 -0700

I asked for the Senator, Assistant said Senator not available, asked where I was calling from, told him my name and that I would like the senator to support SB593. He said thank you and was gone.
Deborah Nitasaka commented 2015-05-11 21:57:15 -0700

I just made the call. It was easy since I called after hours and could leave my message on voice mail. I’ve also passed the word along to my fellow housing advocates at the Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group!
Ken Windrum commented 2015-05-11 19:31:39 -0700
arlene merryman commented 2015-05-11 17:08:56 -0700

left message.
Emmanuelle Taijmans commented 2015-05-11 16:19:10 -0700

left message
Chris Eaton commented 2015-05-11 16:04:23 -0700

I made the call and spoke with an employee there. I urged the Senator to support the bill and for him to ask his committee to do the same on my behalf.