San Francisco Mayor Lee's promised Airbnb regulation working group never set up

When Mayor Ed Lee vetoed a regulation last year on Airbnb limiting stays to just 60 days annually, he promised to establish a working group and to propose improved regulations by the end of February.

But the San Francisco Examiner has learned no such working group was ever set up.

For those backing stronger regulations on short-term rentals, the failure is seen as the latest setback in a mayoral administration criticized for being soft on Airbnb due to Lee’s cozy relationship with the company’s investor, Ron Conway. Opponents argue short-term rentals gobble up precious housing stock.

The Mayor’s Office, however, said it is only respecting the mediation process related to the federal lawsuit filed against The City last year by Airbnb over a separate law adopted last summer, which would assess fines and criminal penalties to Airbnb and other short-term home rental companies if they let homeowners rent rooms without registering with The City.

Read more: http://www.sfexaminer.com/mayor-lees-promised-airbnb-regulation-working-group-never-set/