OB Rag and Save San Diego Neighborhoods Sponsor Rally in Heart of Airbnb Empire
There’s a noon time protest rally against short term vacation rentals in Ocean Beach on Saturday, November 25th.
Sponsored by the OB Rag and Save San Diego Neighborhoods, the rally will begin at the corner of Voltaire Street and Abbott – right in the heart of Airbnb’s OB Empire.
The public demonstration will feature a few speakers and then move down Abbott to the corner of Abbott and Brighton. Along the way, the OB Rag will give “the Tour of Shame”, highlighting a few examples of long-term rental housing turned into vacation rentals.
Ocean Beach – and other coastal communities – are being devastated by online short term rental agencies and companies, such as Airbnb and VRBO. And outrage has been simmering for years within the neighborhoods as housing stock is lost with fewer and fewer affordable housing available for actual residents. The rally will allow this outrage to be expressed in an actual protest. Perhaps the first of its kind in San Diego.
The event is also meant to put a spotlight on the upcoming December 12th hearing by the San Diego City Council on short term rentals.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Please don’t forget to point out how beautiful the renovated apartment building on Abbott and Brighton looks! This is just one example of how short term rental hosts are improving the area. This building was previously a dump, as well as many others. When property owners are able to make a decent profit on their investments, the neighborhood will be transformed from a slum and the undesirable tenants are forced to move out.
I am a long term responsible tenant in North OB. I pay my rent on time, I keep the yard looking nice and I make small repairs whenever I can. The property owner I rent from is also responsible and chooses to not allow their rentals to become “dumps” in the first place. Your mindset can only contribute to the growing loss of community and the wonderful OB vibe that I cherish.
I work for one of the local trauma centers in direct pt care, I am college educated and have lived in OB for 21 yrs. I can longer afford the rents. Am I one of your undesirable tenants? I understand your point of view, but you blindly diminish the effects these changes have had on a “community” of people. When I visit a new place I want to meet local people and experience local culture and point of view. OB has become a parade of tourists. The atmosphere and culture of OB I assume is one part of what people enjoy when they visit, that is rapidly disappearing. I don’t qualify my life by saying ” oh look at that pretty apt, my day is better now”
John, is it your right to live in OB regardless of the economics? Should the world subsidize your life because you don’t make enough money to consume everything that you want?
You and those like you who frequent this site are unbelievable. I can’t afford to live at the beach in Del Mar but I am not writing to the Del Mar Rag to bitch about it.
Take some responsibility for yourself and stop your complaining! OB doesn’t belong to you or any of the other leftovers from the 60’s and 70’s who are getting left behind by progress.
Wow “oldob”, I am so glad you do not live next door to me.
oldob- no surprise, your comment fits right in with your previous views on minimum wage! You denigrate all those who don’t fall into your sad, economic profile, but what you’ve overlooked is that OBceans don’t want to live in Del Mar…uh, that’s why they’re in OB.
People in OB aren’t “left behind by progress”- haha, how presumptuous and condescending can you get! They have chosen a different ‘progress’ model, obviously an unacceptable one in your world view. So why not move somewhere more in keeping with your desired standard of living? Or at least, if there even IS a Del Mar Rag, comment there- I’m sure you’ll find it more satisfying since you find the commenters here so “unbelievable”!
The neighborhood is not a slum, its a neighborhood. One with uniqueness and character, the likes of which has sadly been driven out of other areas of San Diego. The gentrification you refer to in your comment, and the way you view ‘improvement’ in light of increasing investment profits is precisely what is wrong with unchecked development. Neighborhoods should grow and prosper for the communities’ wellbeing, not for the increased profits of private investors. Or else, you’ll be left with just a pretty but soulless shell, which is no community at all. The world is not about superficial beauty, its not a disney fantasy. The real world, like the real communities and families which make it up, are wonderful and real because of their imperfections. Recognizing, understanding and cherishing that is essential. Then again, if you just buy a property as an investment and not to be part of the community then you are the problem.
We ARE the residents of OB, with our kids in local schools, support for small locally owned businesses, volunteers for community and beach cleanups, donors for the OB Toy and Food Drive, and with all the other community activities that we engage in — very unlike the loud, often drunk, selfish and unfriendly short term visitors. Let them rent a room in a local hotel, where their wants and needs are better serviced, and let us residents enjoy our neighbors. We love the diversity of OB and good neighbors, and we want affordable homes for all Obecians who want to live here.
catsmom makes a valid point. the upkeep to keep a home in a beach town is expensive and requires a lot of work. when some responsible homeowners choose STVR to help with the costs, homes can be upgraded. when prices go up, property taxes go up and the city can afford to pay the police to keep the neighborhoods safe. also, the 11% tax on every rental also helps to keep the city staff employed. while understanding, wanting to keep OB the same…buildings are falling apart, property taxes aren’t enough to employ enough police. a balance between the two can keep OB from falling apart, and being taken over by homeless and crime. there’s two sides to every story — and the two can exist. should one person own 10 homes and rent out? no! can a person rent out a second home — and help contribute to the community? yes. don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
OB residents are “undesireables?” Ocean beech is “a slum” that needs to be “transformed?” Catsmom, I’m sure you don’t live here, but if you do sounds like it’s time to move on.
We’ll be on the news, Channel 8 at 5, 6 and 11.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/36924372/protesters-call-for-short-term-vacation-rental-policy-change-in-ob#
Methinks oldob doesn’t quite understand the issue of gentrification & the intrusion of short term rentals into a neighborhood.
Thank you OB Rag for coordinating the protest. I regret I was only able to participate for a short bit in front of the “3 on Abbott”.
I just did a little research:
The “3 on Abbott” are actually SEVEN Vacation Rentals. When at full capacity up to fifty one people can be staying there at one time. So basically it is a HOTEL, not a neighbor. What is really infuriating is how the owners out and out lied to the Planning Board.
Your completely off base. I actually think a property owner has the right to do whatever they want with their property. I don’t think you have spent very much time looking at the economics of what we are talking about and who is being displaced. And I don’t think I was bitching at all. The people that you need to staff the rite-aid, the restaurants etc, cant live close enough to the community to work in it. Median home price in San Diego is 600k and 17 % percent of SD population can afford that. You need to brush up on the facts. The rental market provides housing for many hard working individuals who may not yet have the money for a car to commute, or have finished school to get a higher paying job. Many of us started out sharing an apt until we worked are way up. The point is about the rise in cost of living beyond what is reasonable by the market forces these changes bring. I make 60$ per hr. If I find it expensive to live here, what the hell are the normal people supposed to do??? Check the craigslist. 2600 for a 2 bed room in mid city! And I am much younger than the 1960s. Catsmom comment is rife with classism and prejudice. That is what I was responding too.
We had a great turn out today at our rally against short term rentals; about 80 people from OB, Mission Beach and PB joined us and went on our “Walk of Shame” where we pointed out numerous sites of STVRs, – including the 2-story 4 units at 2101-07 Abbott, which has now been confirmed as vacation rentals.