Government should stay out of private transactions
When did we start thinking it’s OK for the government to get between you and another private citizen conducting a transaction involving your own private property? We bemoan lost tax revenue and safety concerns, but don’t have the same concern when millions come into our nation “home” illegally, often not paying taxes and freely partaking of tax payer provided services like education and healthcare. Why the difference?
Encouraging us to rat on our neighbors is a page right out of the Communist playbook and not likely to promote community. The Sun neglected to mention what the city spent on MuniServices to “ferret out” unpaid taxes. They even boasted that this company was hired for its NSA like abilities to scour vast amounts of data to find these fiendish people who dared rent their home.
I’ve used Airbnb domestically and internationally and I live in Sonoma. I met wonderful people and shared their homes. I didn’t hold loud parties and no one was hurt. I also shared my home in Sonoma and ditto, I met wonderful people and while they were enjoying my home, they were spending money in the local economy. If your neighbor is a jerk, deal with it; don’t call City Hall.
Gail Duffly, Sonoma
2 thoughts on “Government should stay out of private transactions”
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“When did we start thinking it’s OK for the government to get between you and another private citizen conducting a transaction involving your own private property?”
Answer: Since about 1787, and for sure since 1926, when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of zoning ordinances whereby local government, in the exercise of its police powers, can restrict the uses of private property, including commercial uses such as using them as hotels, bars, etc. See Village of Euclid, Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co. 272 US 365
When your neighbor is a business and a major jerk, only City officials can help, but usually elect to allow the business jerl to continue to be a jerl.