Look at what you can get the "platforms" to do

That super-innovative first of its kind package of STR regulations New Orleans just passed are already behind the times.

Airbnb told Portland officials Tuesday that it would block local users from listing multiple properties in violation of city rules.

The website, which allows homeowners to rent their private residence to vacationers, said its new "one host, one home" policy would help protect Portland's housing stock from being converted into vacation rentals and adding to the squeeze on renters in the city.

The company previously introduced the policy in New York and San Francisco.

Susan Guidry and Jared Brossett proposed a similar policy for councilmembers to consider in October and December. Their amendments would have limited STRs to one per homestead exemption in Orleans Parish.  It failed, though, in large part because the mayor's staff insisted "buy-in" from Airbnb was more important than protecting affordable housing.  Unfortunately, a majority of the council acquiesced to the mayor's position.

"We've got a deal with Airbnb and there are other ones out there and more coming. ... So a deal with Airbnb is not the answer," said Sandra Stokes, a member of the Louisiana Landmarks Society. "The homestead exemption is essential to make this work. You've got to have some housing left for the residents of this city."

Councilman Jason Williams said that a vote against the ordinance is a vote in favor of allowing short-term rentals to proliferate.

"We are creating an effective enforcement mechanism that not a single other city in this world" has adopted, Williams said. "Councilman's Brossett's amendments were good, but it would've broken the deal and sent us back to where we were last year with absolutely no enforcement."

Looks like other cities have gotten better "deals" than the one Williams voted to protect. Williams also talked a lot about the possibility of going back to "tweak" things later on.  Maybe it's time to start tweaking.