The San Francisco headquarters of Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) was the site of a Wednesday protest by a coalition of community groups and labor unions announcing their boycott of the short-term home rental service.
In a press statement, the coalition said their boycott was “motivated by Airbnb’s ties to President Trump’s anti-worker agenda and massive cuts to public services, its avoidance of business taxes in San Francisco, and its contribution to the housing crisis.” The coalition urged San Francisco residents to use rival services “until Airbnb stops their greed.”
The coalition’s members include Indivisible SF, the Chinese Progressive Association, San Francisco Rising, SOMCAN, Coalition on Homelessness SF, Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, Filipino Community Development Corporation, PODER SF, San Francisco Building Trades, United Educators of San Francisco, UNITE HERE Local 2, Teamsters Local 856, AFSCME 3299, UPTE-CWA, SEIU Local 1021, SEIU Local 2015, DSA SF, IFPTE Local 21, People’s Budget SF, Council of Community Housing Organizations, and Jobs with Justice SF.
“As the chair of San Francisco’s budget committee, I see the effect of Airbnb’s refusal to contribute to our local economy,” said San Francisco District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan. “When Airbnb does not pay their fair share, it hurts all San Franciscans, when we cut city services to clean our streets, keep our libraries open, and Muni buses running. We all must boycott Airbnb until they do right by our city.”
If the Coalition for Homelessness is for it, then I’m against it. The policies of making homeless people martyrs has not worked. All we get are higher taxes, dirtier streets and frustration at seeing out cities turn into toilets. I will continue to use Airbnb, and I hope a government of San Francisco comes along that will clean up our streets.
What is an Airbnb?
Whatever someone else has, those who didn’t invest in it want it. They want to take it from you to disperse amongst those who have less. Grow up and get a life. You are NOT hurting the corporation of Airbnb, you are hurting the people who own those homes that try to rent through Airbnb. Go and use VRBO to rent, and you will see the same owners! It is amazing how LITTLE people know about working hard and TRYING to make their own future better. If you gave these people EVERYTHING they wanted, they would find something else to bitch about. Pay no attention to them, and they will go away.