The Hudson Development Corporation Emergency Business Task Force organized two Zoom roundtable discussions about the proposed legislation to regulate short term rentals in Hudson. At the first meeting, on July 13, Alderman John Rosenthal (Fourth Ward), who chairs the Legal Committee, which is drafting the legislation, answered questions from meeting participants; at the second meeting, on July 20, Alderman Rebecca Wolff (First Ward), who serves on the Legal Committee and is principally responsible for the changes to the draft legislation that have been made since the beginning of 2020, spoke with the group about the law.
At the meeting of the HDC Emergency Business Task Force this past Monday, Bob Rasner, chair of the HDC Board, explained that although bringing legislators and business people together to discuss proposed legislation was in keeping with the mission of HDC, what is likely to happen going forward could involve "taking sides," which would be inappropriate for HDC. For that reason, he and Branda Maholtz, executive director of HDC, would be bowing out. The group will continue independent of HDC, under the leadership of a team made up of Monica Byrne, Stephanie Siebert, Jenny Douglas, and Mark Siegmund. Independent of HDC, the group is not obligated to make its meetings public.
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Given that the lodging industry is clearly threatened by the draft legislation, it makes sense that it would seek to protect itself. This will require lobbying, a practice generally conducted in private though any potential outcome will be debated publicly (for sure in this town). Frankly, after reading Gossips' tales regarding this bill so far (I'd read it if anyone can agree on the definitive version) and the sponsor's comments on it, I hope this group will draft its own bill that reflects both community interests and economic realities rather than ideology.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding from several people who attended the Monday meeting is that Mr. Rasner suggested that this “private” side group could be provided a checking account and funds — via the not so private umbrella group — the HDC. If this is a correct recounting of what transpired at that meeting, I question whether this new group is truly independent, and whether public $ should be used for said private lobbying — regardless of the merits or demerits of the same. If it is “inappropriate” for the HDC to “take sides” or lobby, how is it ok for it to fund a private split off group to do the same? Since I wasn’t at the meeting myself, I’d genuinely like some clarification on this point.
ReplyDeleteI think Steve addresses this well in his reply; however, please be reminded that HDC is NOT funded by public dollars.
DeleteHDC is not funded with public dollars, AND there was never a suggestion of HDC the workgroup.
DeleteHDC did offer to be a repository of funds if there came a time when the group decided to collect funds, but that hasn't occurred, and currently isn't planned for.
Hi Verity. To the extent what you wrote was actually what was actually in play (I did not attend that meeting), the following day at the formal monthly HDC meeting on Tuesday, that I did attend and which is the venue for the HDC as an organization to actually make decisions and take action, involved a tack in course. I presume Gossips in due course will report on that meeting.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, the concept of the HDC actually funding such an effort I very much doubt was ever in play. What may have been in play, and if so, the ensuing course correction, was the thought that the HDC might "host" a bank account for the spin off group. Come to think of it, the term "spin off" might not be the best term, since the group was never a part of the HDC, and none of its announced members also wear the hat of being Board members of the HDC.