Olympia,
WA — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation
economy CEOs and senior executives, today urged the Seattle City Council to oppose an amendment to add a nightly tax on
short-term rental platforms. The
following statement can be attributed to Joanie Deustch, TechNet’s Executive Director
for Washington and the Northwest:
“TechNet is committed to supporting Seattle’s economic
growth and prosperity. That’s why we
applaud the Seattle City Council’s work to legalize and put in place reasonable
regulations on the short-term rental industry.
We believe that the ordinance before the Council represents a fair
compromise that, if adopted, would be a landmark achievement.
“However, we strongly oppose the proposed amendment adding
an additional nightly tax on short-term rental platforms. This tax is a poison pill that would upend
the compromise. It unfairly targets the
short-term rental industry made up of over 4,500 Seattle residents who serve as
hosts to visitors in our city.
Additionally, this type of tax would stifle innovation and growth for
future internet-based marketplaces, which thousands of Seattle residents depend
upon to pay their bills.”
Short-term
rentals are an economic lifeline for many Seattle residents who want to
continue to live in the Emerald City.
Short-term rentals also provide important economic benefits to the city
in the form of jobs, visitor spending, and new revenue. For example, Airbnb activity generated an
estimated $283 million in economic activity in Seattle last year, including an
estimated $216 million in visitor spending.