Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) plans to unveil new legislation Monday afternoon that would allow cities to fine short-term rental hosts who violate local property rental laws to fine those hosts up to $5,000.
The bill is intended to deter “party houses” that attract massive gatherings to short-term rentals in otherwise quiet residential neighborhoods.
In a news release Sunday, Glazer said the bill was prompted by the killing of five people at an Orinda home at a Halloween party that was illegal under Orinda’s short-term-rental ordinance.
In November, the Orinda City Council passed an emergency ordinance banning “non-hosted” rentals altogether, and placing new limits on “hosted” venues, including requiring stays of two nights or longer, designed specifically to fend off one-night party rental scenarios.
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Well, Glazier is from Orinda, and the fine should be higher than $5K. $5K is nothing for some of these hosts, and I use the term lightly.
Does anybody think short-term rental owners purposely rent their properties to the “urban” demographic to host parties? This piece of legislation punishes the victim.
This is like punishing a date rape victim for allowing herself to go on a date and subsequently getting raped.
Ludicrous.
A guy in Orinda (2017) purposely rented his home to an “urban” demographic. A young man ended up in a coma. He knew darn well who he was renting his home to (for one night on Camino Sobrante). He charged $850, and he knew there would be a party. It’s commonly known as GREED. This is not punishing the victim. This is punishing the greedy homeowner, and rightfully so.
If you don’t think homeonwers know there will be a party if they charge $850, you’re naïve. You can get a hotel room for a lot less. The whole idea of Airbnb is to save money, and $850 a night is hardly a deal.
So? When does the legislation on our property end? We now have zero rights on what we can do on our own land! Who cares what some numb nut decides to do a a party? If a kid killed himself by being dumb, so what? If there is a party, then the neighbors call the police just like how it has always been done. What you should really be worried about if the further erosion of our freedoms.
Oh please. That’s what happens when you live in a society.
A society without personal freedom is a collective, the leftist dream.
Well one “demographic” landlord was obviously naive about renting to another “demographic” sector.
I don’t get a pass for being ignorant of the law and now neither should they.
BTW, there’s a bunch more of these new “demographic” slumlords…….I’ve had to deal with them as they do not want to put out the money (price of being a property owner) to bring their rentals up to code.
Anyone who owns a rental and rents it out knowing there will be a party is a fool.Nuf said!
Seems like Orinda already has a handle on this problem. Only thing missing is what happens if you break the ordinance?
“In a news release Sunday, Glazer said the bill was prompted by the killing of five people at an Orinda home at a Halloween party that was illegal under Orinda’s short-term-rental ordinance.”
So the people that illegally did something are going to pay attention to another law.
Good luck with that, Steve.
“So the people that illegally did something are going to pay attention to another law.”
Why not? Isn’t that how we handle everything in America?
Some people drink too much — we get Prohibition.
Some people abuse prescription opioids — all prescription opioid users are denied their medication.
Some people abuse firearms — all firearm owners are denied their natural right to self-defense with modern weapons.
That’s what we do in America. And we never learn.
Do it.
I had to deal with the same lame fools. Cost me millions. Not to mention the free rapes that occurred.
Glazer! I had forgotten all about this guy. The second I saw this story I knew he must be up for re-election this year, and yup, he sure is. Recall he skated into his job riding a huge wave of anti-BART feelings after the strike. He was like a one issue candidate promising to pass legislation so BART could not strike, would be cleaner, and management more responsible. So how did that work out? He introduced one serious measure that has been sitting unvoted on since 2017. He did help create an expensive bureaucracy to oversee some BART thing. Aren’t we all better off for that? Since he completely failed at what he promised, that is sure not going to be held against him by the democrats who will vote for anyone who is a democrat regardless of anything else. The hard hitting legislation he has passed include things on wine tasting rooms, pets during emergency evacuations, higher taxes to support UC/CSU, and fee waivers at CSU if the right class is not offered for you. Somehow I do not feel better off for all that. People who vote for their party regardless of the person running get the government they deserve, but the rest of us do not deserve this.
Glazer…. airbnb issue aside, the guy was one of two area senators that voted against that SB50 bill from Sen. Wiener. For that vote, Glazer will get mine – as long as he is on the ballot.
SB50: Sacramento preempting local zoning governance, forcing density all while making social adjustments per his view of racial injustices and lifestyle choices.
The majority of democrats voting on SB50 voted for it. The majority of Republicans voting on SB50 voted against it. So because he voted like a Republican, you will support him? The crazy world of the democratic voter never ceases to amaze.
To Do List: The supermajority of Ds in the legislature is a cesspool.
That the herd/gang of local senators voted for the SB50 disaster is typical, in that they lack independence of thought, and reflect SF/Oakland needs & wants. Glazer isn’t perfect, but he represents contra costa well and does his own thinking. You want to get someone voted out, donate to Fielder who is running against Wiener and his corporate funded developer/tech, real estate machine. But I suspect you’re a fanboy…
If you are asking if I’m a fan of Fielder, I have no clue who he is. Despite my strong opinion on Glazer, I do not really follow local politics much but just have a very negative impression of Glazer because I feel we were suckered by his campaign’s emphasis on doing something about BART and it never happened.
I voted for him because of his “I’ll fix BART” platform. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice…. I hope he doesn’t get the chance.
I believe cities already have the ability via zoning codes to restrict commercial activity in residential areas.
From what I recall of what happened in Orinda, there were e-mails from the renter that an event venue planned for a family gathering was no longer available due to the fires in Napa county. The landlord accepted the rental. The renter then advertised the house for a Halloween party.
The landlord had given his phone number to at least one of the neighbors. A neighbor called about the party getting underway, the landlord checked the Ring doorbell’s camera, saw the unexpected activity, and immediately called the Orinda police department. Orinda PD did not have a unit available for an immediate dispatch as they were assisting another agency with an armed home invasion robbery in Lafayette. The shooting was an hour or two after the call to Orinda PD.
Should the landlord be held liable for that there was a party and/or for the shooting? Should the landlord be fined up to $5,000 under Steve Glazer’s proposed legislation?
Should the homeowner be held liable (and fined)? ABSOLUTELY! The landlord in the latest situation also knew a party was going to happen. Who rents a home for over $800 on Halloween night unless you’re having a party? He had a track record of renting out to “one night rentals” (parties) and the neighbors called OPD all the time. The latest situation – the homeowner had already been fined at least twice by the city of Orinda. He didn’t care.
Glazier knows the only way to send a message to wealthy, greedy homeowners (or anyone) is to fine them. I think the fine should be $50K – 100K. Up to $5K is nothing for someone who is wealthy.
If this bill passes, and a homeowner is fined, and refuses to pay the fine. Put a lien on their property.
As a Lamorindan – I’m sick of this.
Should be good for a bump up in campaign contributions from the deep pocketed Zip Code. Count on being reminded of this legislation just before reelection.
Good. Get em.
Speaking of the Orinda murders, there really hasn’t been any news for quite some time. Let’s hope there is an announcement forthcoming.
Steve seems sincere. he’s again trying to protect his community…however, if he still hasn’t been able to find 1 other non-union corrupted politician or been able to educate the majority of the public to pressure legislators to ban bart employees and their lackeys from holding innocent commuters hostage (it’s inevitable there will be future strikes & shutdowns), then he needs to keep publicizing the corruption.
More of what we’ve come to expect in this state. Knee-jerk legislation and cash grabs from the government.
Just where would the money collected from the fines go?
These ‘one-night party rental’ nightmares are not a new phenomena! Churches and other private venues have been victimized by these folks for years. The radio station KMEL used to pull this stunt all the time. It was always a B-Day party or Wedding Anniversary on the rental agreement, and usually ended up being a near-riot requiring multiple agency response.
I bet the Police and D.A. know the people organizing most of these ‘events’. I would love to see them prosecuted, however, our D.A. (in addition to committing perjury) seems to be part of the criminal defense team.
I’m not a fan of knee-jerk legislation, but I’m not a fan of Airbnb either. Not only have I had my own issues, but they have a track record of disrupting communities around the world. It’s really messing with people in very poor places, who are losing out on tax revenue and tourist industry employment. I have co-workers from the Virgin Islands, who say their home has basically been turned upside down, with home ownership being pushed far outside the reach of the average person.
The state would be smart to create a new business class for short term rental, so the landlords can easily start their own business and bypass Airbnb (and its fees) entirely.
There’s a huge difference between hosting an occasional party, and using a property for the sole purpose of being a party venue. According to statements made in press stories, the Orinda house was being repeatedly rented out as a venue, and it was causing problems.
A house in a quiet suburban residential area can’t be used as a night club or a music venue. That’s not a new concept, it’s not a sign of a “nanny society”. The house and the neighborhood aren’t zoned for that kind of thing. Even it was zoned properly, there would still need to be security staff, and there would still be regulations pertaining to safety, maximum occupancy, noise levels, parking, and so forth.
Now if you have a property out in the boonies somewhere, far away from neighbors, then odds are you can rent a house out for parties. And odds are that you could get the proper permit to be a night club if you wanted to.
If you want to own a HOTEL – buy one.
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