STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding the need for short-term rental regulations (AB363):

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, April 29, 2021 

*Updated Wednesday, May 26, 2021*

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088  

STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding short-term rental regulations (AB363):

The Culinary Union has been advocating for enforceable short-term rentals regulations at multiple levels of government for years and is supportive of Assembly Bill 363 as amended. 

As Nevada’s largest union and organization of immigrants, women, Latinx/Black/AAPI workers, the Culinary Union believes that our State must consider how short-term rentals have negatively affected affordable housing in many cities, the quality of life problems that they often bring to residential areas, and ensuring that operators play by the same rules as other lodging providers when considering a regulatory framework for short-term rentals. 

First, any regulations concerning short-term rentals must consider the impact on affordable housing in Nevada. Throughout the country, unregulated or poorly regulated short-term rentals have caused affordable housing crises and we must take proactive steps to prevent that from happening in Nevada. 

The multi-billion dollar short-term rental industry has drawn in investors who buy up multiple housing units for investments, which means that fewer homes are available to long-term renters in a city. Rent then rises because of limited supply. If short-term rentals are to be permitted, there should be restrictions on landlords and outside investors who take apartments out of the long-term rental market and a strict limit on how many short-term rentals a person or entity can own and operate.

In addition, Culinary Union members and hospitality employees, who work different shifts in a 24-hour economy, have long raised concerns about the quality of life issues that come along with short-term rentals in residential areas. Workers have complained of party houses that keep them and their neighbors up at night and have turned their neighborhoods into unruly unofficial resort corridors. Unfortunately, the quality of life issues that come along with short-term rentals in residential areas don’t just end with loud music at parties. There have been multiple violent incidents at parties at short-term rentals in Las Vegas over the last few years (KTNV, August 3, 2020).

Lastly, short-term rental operators should have to abide by the same rules as other lodging providers. This means that short-term rentals should be taxed and regulated like any other public accommodation facility. Enforcement of any regulations will be crucial if Nevada is committed to eliminating illegal short-term rentals. Without strict enforcement and substantial penalties for non-compliance, illegal short-term rentals will continue to flourish. 

Illegal short-term rentals have been a nuisance in our neighborhoods, contributed to an unaffordable housing crisis around the country, and they have mostly avoided being taxed and regulated like other lodging providers. AB363 addresses these issues and creates an enforceable regulatory framework for this growing industry.  

The Culinary Union applauds Assemblywoman Nguyen for bringing this bill forward and urges the Nevada Legislature to support and pass AB363 as amended. 

ABOUT CULINARY UNION:

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America. 

The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.  

The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.   

The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.  

Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting for working families in Nevada for 86 years.

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 

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