Airbnb, which spent greater than $1 million this yr on lobbying to get the invoice handed, insisted late Wednesday the corporate will proceed to pursue the laws in 2026, whilst its prospects could possibly be dim underneath Menin.
“We are not giving up the fight on behalf of homeowners and their right to earn supplemental income,” an Airbnb spokesman stated. “We are not giving up the fight for a more affordable New York.”
The Lodge and Gaming Trades Council, the town’s highly effective lodge union that performed a key position in serving to safe sufficient assist for Menin to change into speaker, stated the obvious dying of the invoice is sweet for the town. “It’s no surprise that a bill that would take union jobs and housing opportunities away from New Yorkers, and that never gained more than a handful of sponsors, is looking unlikely to pass or to even qualify for a vote,” stated HTC Political Director Bhav Tibrewal.
First launched in late 2024, the invoice would enable some house owners of one- and two-family properties to begin renting out their residences for stays of 30 days or much less with out being current. That will have been a step again towards the established order earlier than 2023, when the town outlawed practically all types of short-term leases, reasoning the 5 boroughs wanted most flats for everlasting housing amid a deepening affordability disaster.
Airbnb, whose enterprise mannequin was hampered by the 2023 reforms, has been arguing the tweaks went too far and that the invoice would create an affordable compromise. On the opposite aspect, the HTC has been vocally against the invoice attributable to issues about it depriving its members of labor and jeopardizing everlasting housing shares.
Finally, few Council members have come out publicly in favor of the invoice, with simply seven co-sponsors signed up as of late Wednesday.
Sources stated Council leaders to that finish made a preliminary name late Wednesday to not advance the invoice for a vote at Thursday’s last 2025 assembly, killing the opportunity of passage on this session — and that means it could should be reintroduced subsequent yr for an opportunity at adoption. The sources cautioned the decision to not put the invoice up for a vote could possibly be reversed, although it appeared unlikely.
Earlier than Wednesday, the invoice earned assist from some outstanding neighborhood leaders, together with the Rev. Al Sharpton, who argues the short-term rental market is a key earnings stream for householders in predominantly Black outer-borough neighborhoods.
Speaker Adams, who’s leaving workplace Dec. 31 attributable to time period limits, has additionally been quietly supportive of the measure, based on sources. One supply with direct information stated as not too long ago as Wednesday the speaker was making calls to members making an attempt to gauge assist for the invoice.
However Council insiders stated Menin’s lack of assist, coming as she prepares to take over the speaker’s gavel subsequent yr, has weighed closely, as has incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s possible opposition to it.
In a stinging assertion, Sharpton laid blame for the invoice’s obvious failure on Menin, suggesting she undercut Speaker Adams.
“The most alarming thing that has unfolded these last several days has been the decision by the presumptive speaker to undercut the first Black woman to lead this body,” Sharpton stated. “If we are to lead with our values, Council member Menin has certainly shown hers this week … If this is what we are to expect from the City Council these next four years, the promise of a more affordable New York they preached about to sway votes will have been nothing more than another empty promise.”
Menin didn’t deny she’s against the invoice, however stated she hasn’t made any calls to different members about it.
“It’s unfortunate that misleading attacks are being used to try to advance Airbnb’s corporate agenda rather than having an honest conversation about protecting housing for New Yorkers,” she stated.
