I think the problem is getting variances for zoning on the Air BnB properties where they don’t live. Variances are not guaranteed and applying for them are time-consuming and costly. Based on the new rules the zoning needs to be a certain way if you don’t live in the property. If it’s not zoned correctly, then you have to do a typical leasing arrangement and all the paperwork and clearances that go with it. Pre-regulation changes, Air BnB just made it easier to circumvent a lot of the requirements and costs associated with leasing out property.

> She wants to have her cake and eat too.

That's the most generous take on "wants to commit tax fraud" I've ever seen.

>“I live here, you know, and I’m not a business,” Romero said.
>
>...
>
>“It’s been a nightmare trying to get the zoning permit,” Romero said. “They shut down my business, and that’s what I’ve lived off of. I mean, it’s rough. It’s really rough.”

> Just because it's not the wild west anymore doesn't mean it's banned.

It’s pretty much banned unless you get a zoning variance. So…banned.

I moved from boston 8 months ago. Yes everyone is really friendly to their neighbors in both cities! Well as long as the neighbors don’t suck lol

No experience of Boston, but I think that Philly is very neighborly, and people are solid. Lived in other places (not Boston) that are seen as being 'nice,' you barely talk to other people.

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I wish the police patrolled the city the way the ppa does.

Yup I do the same, just with 1 gallon jugs. I also use them to water my plants.

Worked out well this week, at most water had been in the jugs for a week, so just poured it into my brita.

People like this Romero person in the article is why regulation is needed… She’s been knowingly flying under the radar and making income. Now that the city is trying to get things in order she’s crying about it. She wants to have her cake and eat too.

Yes

yes

They are I appreciate the additional source. After some quick googling I’ve seen Philly as “low” as 13 and as high as 2 per Inky so there’s some variability in the methods that I don’t understand. Either way, it seems like many northeast more industrial cities, Philly is highly segregated. Could be our size during the Industrial Revolution attracted many black southerners and entrenched them in certain areas due to red lining. Maybe Boston had a smaller migration of black southerners during this period seeking work in northeast cities

What funny is that Romero has been interviewed for articles in the past - as in, months to a year ago I remember seeing her name and the same line of ”I’m lookin for a job!”

She had no intention of getting a job. She’s been complaining about the unfairness of it all for at least a year - despite the fact that there’s been plenty of advance warning that the axe was coming.

My blood pressure on Snyder Ave has to be scary. I hate it so much

You can only move one day a year? WhT does that mean?

I can only think she's in some sort of denial.

Especially with tax season going on, she's really going to act like government forms are some sort of undue hardship?

>The whole city itself is segregated by entire neighborhoods

Same as Philadelphia. Our City is even more segregated by most metrics.

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Honestly, even if she desperately wants to rely on Airbnb... then get the required permits? And follow regulations?

Just because it's not the wild west anymore doesn't mean it's banned.

That’s my biggest pet peeve! I can almost sympathize with delivery drivers who have no other choice, but they still do it when there’s a bunch of open spots! It’s insanity.

You forgot the part where she’s fine handing that information out to private companies as well ….

But that’s gotta be some kind of thin justification for “I don’t want to have to do the same stuff everyone else running a business has to do”, which makes more sense, but is an even less defensible argument.

For anyone that isn’t aware - If you own property, it’s a bit too late to claim to want to be off the grid. Unless you really nest that shit in a complicated network of shell companies and whatnot, it’s all in the public record and easily discoverable to anyone with the right websites and a little bit of patience. She’s not going to be any more or less findable than she already is.

It's actually worse if we just look at the City. Instead of #13 we are #2 most segregated in the country between black and white only behind Chicago.. This is the Inky so hopefully they are an acceptable source to quote the Census data for you.

👁🔻👁

No. We can do better. We did better for decades and decades before we started populating the east coast with casinos.