Airbnb hosts pushed back on a bill introduced in the City Council Thursday that would require home-sharing platforms to provide the mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement with detailed information that includes their names and addresses.
Heather-Sky McField told The Post she’s been renting out a unit in her two-family home in East New York on Airbnb since she had to leave work to take care of her ill mom, and it’s become her primary source of income.
She said Buildings Department inspectors showed up at her house in March and intimidated her into letting them in, and she’s concerned that a data handover will lead to more harassment.
“I’m getting ready to sell, because I can’t afford to live here. And I don’t want to move out of New York . . . but I feel like I’m being forced out,” she said.
Lead bill sponsor Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) said law-abiding hosts have nothing to fear — it’s bad actors warehousing apartments who’ve been targeted.
The bill is likely to pass since it already has 31 sponsors out of 51 council members.