SHORT TERM RENTALS
​My little beach house. That green building you see right behind my house is four STRs. Here's a fun fact. They aren't even the closest to me. I live with STRs everyday
PAID BY DON HOUSE FOR IRB CITY COMMISSION
No issue has more divided our city than this one. The ordinance that a previous city commission enacted which allowed this intrusion into our 'east of Gulf Boulevard' neighborhoods was just plain stupid. It is on the public record that I stated this part of our city got F**KED. But the reaction from some homeowners in this area is far worse for the city.
The reaction of some of our fellow citizens is totally dividing our city. This group has formed Homes Not Hotels(HNH) to fight their cause. I crashed one of their meetings a few weeks ago and stated they were acting like a cult. A total fixation on getting rid of the STRs is their goal. I have been told by some of their members that they don't care what happens to the city, just "get rid of that STR down the street". This
selfish, arrogant attitude is dangerous to our city. During the last meeting to consider a settlement for the major lawsuit against the city, as a presentation of facts by the two attorneys for the city, the city manager, the city inspector, and a representative for the insurance company, the HNH group in attendance shouted and disrespected the forum. The fact that this meeting was to discuss one settlement of one lawsuit from one property was lost on the HNH group.

STRs are legal in out city and most of them have complied with the city rules and regulations. The HNH group seems to feel that by harassing the STR owners and their visitors this will somehow drive them out of town. An HNH member has stated in our city commission meetings that a certain percentage of the STR renters are MUDERERS, RAPISTS, AND PEDOPHILES. I am sure this is correct just as it is true for the population as a whole. But this reckless, inflammatory rhetoric has no place in trying to solve this issue.
HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
​Any change in this issue will not come from IRB. It will have to go through Tallahassee. I have made the comment on multiple occasions that our city was the only one to make this change in our charter. This is true for the cities on our barrier island in the BigC. But I have been told by an HNHer that there are many cities in the state facing this issue. When I asked how many I was told 100. With that in mind, here is my plan. As Commissioner I would have the city budget $300,000 to address this issue. Obviously this would make little or no impact so the funds would be conditioned upon the other 99 cities doing the same. This would result in a 30 MILLION dollar war chest to lobby to allow cities to change back to home rule. Might make a difference but here is the catch. Anyone ever seen the movie Jerry Maguire?  SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!! Air B&B alone paid HALF A BILLION dollars in sales and bed taxes to the state of Florida last year. This does not include VRBO or any of the others. And this is every year. Second stumbling block. Let's say that our lobbying effort does pay off and the city can change our charter. Anyone ever hear of the Bert Harris Act? What would be the potential liability to the city in this case?
813-927-1096             house.don.election@gmail.com
EMOTIONALLY DEAF
NUMBERS CONCERNING ONE MAJOR LAWSUIT
HOW MUCH SENSE DOES IT MAKE TO CONTINUE LAWSUIT?
ZERO, NADA. ZIP, NIL  & DIDDLY-SQUAT