Letter to County Council re Vacation Rentals

The voice of the people, if that is what you call yourselves.....are in the minority of citizens who live here.

Not only do caps need to be placed on so-called vacation rentals, but the whole mechanism needs to be restructured. Perhaps limit permits to one year of "vacation" renting out during a five-year period; the other four years must be devoted to residential renters (for instance). No operating anything but a single room without a permit, period; violations need to be met with significant penalties and strictly enforced. Please listen: This is a frightening, dangerous situation, currently. There are so many non-residents here, using (and not really paying for) island resources, crowding out residents from our own homes, shops, streets, parking, vital ferry transportation, even the availability of food. Yet I almost never see police around, and this is very dangerous. Where are they? Who is "minding the streets"? On my road, the majority of houses are EMPTY. Some that had rented out to residents have been retrofitted to "vacation" housing. I have no idea who any of the people are who walk in the middle of my street; I've had to install a driveway gate. I no longer feel safe here. I retired here after a lifetime of very hard work, yet now I feel unsafe because of the strangers; local shops carry little of what residents need; the medical facility is overwhelmed; I can't go off island in summer for appointments unless I want to risk sailings being cancelled; there is very little quiet and peace of mind; traffic volume and aggressive driving has greatly increased. Additionally, if I need in-home help (I am retired), those younger people who could provide such help are very scarce -- where do they live? And residents ought not to be considered as servants of visitors). I see this tendency and it is upsetting. We see in this past 2 years of Covid how deeply reliant the islands are on connections to and supplies from the mainland; living here is tentative even without the tremendous pressure caused by allowing unrestrained visiting. Housing prices have increased outrageously

Not all,or many,vacation renterss are invested in the well-being of our islands.Keep your word. August decision should be "solid" PLEASE honor what Citizens count on you for --honoring us & your word. We're counting on YOU.

Please cap the number of vacation rentals at 413 as you decided on August 20.

I am glad to sign this.

Get rid of the council members who only support off island

Outrageous to consider raising the cap on vacation rentals when we can't house families and workers.

Please do what’s right to keep Orcas sustainable.

You of course know nothing of the study submitted to the Council on the fact that vrbos use less than long term.

You will remain working class as you taxes keep creeping up without the income from vacation rental's

Oh ,you mean those horrible people that come from that piece of land far away called the State of Washington? Or worse yet the United States? It sound more like racisms than thought.

First a cap, then they stop the transfer of the existing paid for permit to a new homeowner, then require an annual renewal of the permit, then limit the number of renewals, then take that down to 5 and it won't create one lower monthly long term rental. Mob menatlity

In addition to the points made in this letter supporting a cap to vacation rentals which I fully support. I offer these other related points. Before the last round of public input I pulled up the first 25 places advertised as vacation rentals in San Juan County on Airbnb . 13 of them failed to cite their permit number. Today I pulled up the first 10 Friday Harbor/San Juan Island Airbnb only two cited their permits. This obviously points to an enforcement issue within an understandably underfunded county function. So why not make the fines more punishing and perhaps, if it is possible make some public statements that renters will also be subject to fine, hard to enforce but it may be a deterrent. A cap is meaningless unless adequately enforced. Our services are crippled on this island for lack of accommodation. A cap is essential. Thanks you

Sige Heil....How would you change the Constituion that would not descriminate...of course you cant but you can spread hate though...mob mentality

Why did you not keep the phone number you were given by the person required to live on island to fix any and all complaints..????? You leave that out don't you....We keep deposits if people dont abide by the county rules that are posted on the wall in each vrbo. Lies and flamitory mob mentality.

And how have you been affected by a vacation rental...I know this...your taxes have not gone up as much as they would if there were no VRBO's. Mob mentality

I assume you have some sort of degree, but just in case...there is no, none, any evidence that short term rentals will after beingt illegally eliminated lower any rents for long term. A 600k home is going to go for what it can get for rental and it will still be too high. You guys are the most mob mentality uninformed haters I have seen.

Not enough beaches....You are against Tourism....not a cottage industry right. We are you neighbors who contribute way more than you probably do to the tax base of the County...Mob mentality

You have no idea how much the County taxes VRBOs. You don't care either. This is such a witch hunt devised by a small group spreading hate to get everyone scared and attack VRBO owners who by the way are just like you. Mob Mentality

Again, you are against Tourism...say it. Are you going after the Hotels next? We still have a constitution. Have you read it?