Jersey City mayor wants to legalize Airbnb

“This new law would generate more revenue for Jersey City and help countless families who share their homes and use the money they earn to pay the bills”. If it’s approved, Airbnb could be operating as a legal business in Jersey City within a month.

Fulop is proposing a levy of 6 percent on the Jersey City’s 300 short term rentals, a rate equal to the city’s hospitality tax.

Under a measure introduced by Mayor Steven Fulop, Jersey City could raise up to $1 million in revenues annually because Airbnb agreed to be responsible for charging and collecting the city’s standard 6 percent hotel tax.

Airbnb’s popularity is growing around the world, but many cities aren’t so welcoming to the home-sharing site, with laws making rentals illegal. He argues that services like Airbnb do not contribute to New York’s housing crisis.

Over the past year, Airbnb has been legalized in dozens of cities, most notably in its hometown, where San Francisco officials collect a 14 percent tax.

It was the Super Bowl in 2014 that spurred interest in Airbnb in Jersey City, when people were scrambling to find accommodations near MetLife Stadium. “So I personally think this is a win-win-win across the board”. Two other units are rented out on a long-term basis. It’s raised concerns about the safety of guests, and whether the service is fair to hotels and inns that are required to be licensed and inspected. “You can’t fight fight technology, you have to learn how to work with it”, said Fulop. He began renting out space in his apartment in June 2013 in the McGinley Square neighborhood and was so impressed with Airbnb, he convinced friends and neighbors to use the service.

“That ultimately would be a benefit to our restaurants, businesses and our local economy overall and our residents from a taxpayer’s standpoint”, he said.

“That’s the beauty of technology”.