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Venture capitalists Fred Wilson, Reid Hoffman, Paul Graham, and Ashton Kutcher all spoke up on Twitter, voicing their opposition of the bill.
Graham and Kutcher are both investors in Airbnb and Reid Hoffman is a board observer of the company.
On Twitter, Graham implied that the senate was trying to rush the bill through on the last day the legislature is working this year.
You can't have it both ways, @NYSenate. You can't both be a startup hub and give incumbents laws banning startups. https://t.co/8r57LvYeEE
- Paul Graham (@paulg) June 17, 2016
Classic anti-innovation, stop the future and enshrine the past move by the New York Legislature. https://t.co/jgsoRnqB6X
- Reid Hoffman (@reidhoffman) June 17, 2016
Tech is the future of the NY economy, but @NYSA_Majority & @NYSenate might throw it away with anti-tech bill A8704C/S6340A. Spread the word.
- Y Combinator (@ycombinator) June 17, 2016
The bill, which was introduced by Republican Rep. Andrew J. Lanza of the 24th Senate District, would make it illegal to advertise short-term apartment rentals online. According to Crain's New York Business, the bill is aimed at reducing the number of unoccupied apartments that are rented out on Airbnb or other sites, but would not prevent anyone in New York from renting out an occupied apartment or renting out a vacant apartment for more than 30 days.
"It's disappointing - but not surprising - to see politicians in Albany cut a last minute deal with the hotel industry that will put 30,000 New Yorkers at at greater risk of bankruptcy, eviction or foreclosure," Josh Meltzer, head of New York public policy for Airbnb, said in a statement.
Tech is an important part of the NY economy, but @NYSA_Majority & @NYSenate are ignoring that with a terrible anti-tech bill A8704C/S6340A
Tech is the future of the NY economy, but @NYSA_Majority & @NYSenate might throw it all away with terrible anti-tech bill A8704C/S6340A
- ashton kutcher (@aplusk) June 17, 2016
Said Melzer: "Let's be clear: this is a bad proposal that will make it harder for thousands of New Yorkers to pay the bills. Dozens of governments around the world have demonstrated that there is a sensible way to regulate home sharing and we hope New York will follow their lead and protect the middle class."