As a pastor at the historic Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, it’s my job to support my congregation through everything that life throws their way, including financial hardship. People in our community are struggling, and some are being forced to leave the city that they have called home for generations — and the city needs to take action now.
Many local homeowners in my congregation used to rent out spare units for short periods of time so that they could keep up with their always-increasing bills, but they were suddenly left without this crucial source of income when the city enacted Local Law 18 in 2023. This law effectively banned short-term rental platforms in each of the Five Boroughs. It was passed under the guise of improving affordability by freeing up housing stock, but was clearly in response to hotel owners lobbying to force out their main competitor.
It’s been more than two years since this legislation went into effect, and despite a 90% drop in short-term rental listings, none of the promised benefits have come to fruition. Rents are still sky-high, vacancy rates have remained stagnant, and the hotel industry is taking advantage of the disappearance of competition by raising their rates. In fact, the only notable impact of this legislation has been eliminating a vital source of income for New Yorkers. Black and Brown homeowners, who have always been the backbone of New York City, are leaving at an alarming rate. The foreclosure crisis has been devastating, especially in the outer boroughs. Families who played by the rules and invested in their communities now find themselves with few options to generate the income needed to hold onto their homes.
Many of my parishioners used the extra income from short-term renting to pay property taxes, cover medical bills, or help pay for their child’s college tuition. They aren’t corporate landlords buying up affordable housing; they’re everyday homeowners who were responsibly sharing space in their own homes in order to make ends meet. That option has been taken away during a pivotal moment, by a government that is telling New Yorkers what they can and cannot do in the homes that they own.
Soon, millions of fans will flock to our city to watch and experience the World Cup. These games being hosted in the Tri-State area are a once-in-a-generation moment and New York and New Jersey short-term rental hosts stand to make thousands of dollars. Yet I am heartbroken when I think of how these ridiculously restrictive regulations will mean that our local families will be left on the sidelines of what could be a massive opportunity to share the city they love with travelers and earn a living. For many working families in our neighborhood, that kind of income could mean the difference between staying in the city or being forced to move out of the communities they were born and raised in. If the current short-term rental laws don’t change, New Yorkers will be shut out from this massive economic opportunity.
Other cities are handling the World Cup in a much more sensible manner. Kansas City, Kansas, where I am from, is temporarily relaxing restrictions during the event in order to welcome more fans and share the benefits among working-class residents. Why can’t New York do the same? Why is our government incapable of making an exception to these stringent rules so that New Yorkers can make some much-needed money? It’s beginning to feel like they care more about the billionaire hotel owners instead of real New York homeowners – especially at a time when we thought the tides were turning in the city. Our families deserve better, and our leaders can do better.
Allowing New Yorkers to host short-term rentals during special events like the World Cup would open up a world of economic opportunities in one of America’s most expensive cities. I am calling on the City to enact policy changes, or we’ll watch this incredibly rare opportunity pass by while leaving tax revenue and tourism dollars on the table. New York cannot afford to let that happen.
Rev. Adolphus C. Lacey, PhD is Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church