Editor,
This is a rebuttal to Mr. Milton (“Step Up the Pressure to Ban Short-Term Rentals Permanently,” Letters, May 27 edition.)
Can you please substantiate the claims you make against STRs? i.e., specifically, what date did you file a complaint about trash? Or noise till 2 a.m.? Or cars causing problems? And what property did you file your complaints against?
We ask for several reasons.
- This entire time-consuming discussion is based on Ann Larson’s claim of 241 complaints, which are clearly unsubstantiated fictional creation from an overreaching city employee.
- An (unidentified) neighbor of ours has gotten up to speak against STRs, in general, several times at council meetings. Yet we have never had any neighbor complain about one of our guests. Our guests are adults and are quiet, have only one car, and know how to properly dispose of trash and recycle material and are not allowed to have parties or pets. They are well-screened and responsible. We also ask for a “complaint deposit”.
We wonder, who he is complaining about? He, on the other hand, has a constant turnover of tenants in his apartments. The current tenants in the street side apartment are noisy and disrespectful. They kept us up past 1 a.m. on May 21, 2016, with their loud party noise. Yes, we called the police. And this isn’t the first time. We also have to put up with their cigarette smoke that comes into our cottage. Can’t even have our windows open. These are not short-term renters.
We would suggest that rather than imagining problems with STRs that in fact seldom really happen, you work with us to weed out real repeat STR offenders.
Those of us who rent out occasionally, but also spend much or most of our time in Laguna, love our town as much as you. So, why not work together with us to come up with reasonable and realistic regulations to eliminate future problems?
Who knows, the day may come when you cannot accommodate all your guests for your child’s graduation or wedding. Or, one set of parents may come for an extended visit to help out when your wife is about to deliver. Or, when you are seriously ill. They more than likely would prefer an extended stay in a STR home with a kitchen and space to move about, rather than pay a fortune for one little room.
You may prefer that arrangement as well. It is definitely a good option for you to keep available.
David and Lydia Bell, Laguna Beach
Well said David and Lydia Bell!
I have quickly become sick and tired of all the fact-less statements made by individuals in Laguna Beach for their so called “just causes,” and their lack of compassion, civility or common sense for that matter.
It has permeated the City Council and City Hall employees, and has given license for people to bitch about everything and anything, but yet with an unwillingness to present any factual basis for their complaints.
After living here for 27 years, I am disgusted by the tone and temperament of some of the “citizens” of Laguna Beach.
Exactly who are you taking to task here, David Milton or your neighbor who has the apartments with the loud residents who let you up until 1am? Your letter is very confusing. In my opinion, the words “short-term-renters” applies to people like us who get 2 weeks of vacation a year and want to rent our house out or do a house swap with a nice family who wants to experience Laguna Beach. That is short term. Short -Terms-Renters does NOT apply to a person or persons who rents their home out week after week after week. That is called turnover, like a hotel. That is a complete menace to our quiet neighborhood. I have seen the trash and the multiple cars on his narrow street. And I have heard the partying late into the night. South Laguna is not the Newport Peninsula, it is a quiet neighborhood with working families and children.