Cost of living

Nobody can afford to live here anymore.

Residents, frustrated by the proliferation of short-term rentals in their neighborhoods, are growing increasingly vocal.

Timothy Eskew, who runs Bicycle Michael's in Faubourg Marigny, recently wrote an email to Landrieu and the city council to say that short-term rentals are pushing out locals by soaking up the available housing.

"The consequences are felt by small businesses," Eskew wrote. "We must raise prices and cut hours in order to increase the pay of core staff so they may retain residences. We hire fewer employees and are more likely to reduce staff during slower times of the year. We have had several staff members who worked here for over three years leave the city due to the lack of affordable housing."

Maybe the bike shop staff should all move out to Kenner and drive to work.