For those who have not been following the Airbnb legal troubles, this story has been called "Airbnb vs. New York City: The Defining Fight of the Sharing Economy" (http://skift.com/2013/10/13/airbnb-vs-new-york-city-the-defining-fight-of-the-sharing-economy/; w/ links). I would rather call this version of peer production - collaborative consumption, but do think that the way this goes will be a key turning point. It's not just the hospitality political lobbies that are the problem, it's also the landlords' lobby.  


 
airbnb
 

Dear Eddan,

I'm writing to ask you to help save Airbnb in New York.

As a guest who has stayed with a Host, you know how unique and local an experience that is. And you also know the majority of our hosts are just regular people making ends meet by renting out their own homes.

Now, that experience is under threat.

The New York Attorney General has subpoenaed the records of almost all of our New York hosts. We are fighting the subpoena with all we've got, but poorly written laws make for even worse enforcement. Unless you help to stop it once and for all, the laws may never get better and the threat to our New York community will continue.

A petition to change New York law already has over 88,000 signatures, and an Airbnb host, Mishelle, has pledged to personally deliver it to the New York Senate. Our new goal is 100,000 signatures. We hope as many people as possible will encourage New York to change the law.

Sign Mishelle's petition to change the NY law and Save Airbnb.

Thank you for standing with our New York hosts. We can create a new world where people can feel at home, anywhere. Let's create that world together.

Thank you for signing,

Douglas Atkin
Global Head of Community