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A New York lawmaker is claiming that a startup allowing New York City residents to rent out their apartments to guests short-term could lead to illicit activities such as drug use, prostitution and even gambling.
New York State Senator Liz Krueger blasted AirBnB on Monday.
"The outcome of this, predictably, has been constant streams of tourists disrupting residential buildings, and other inappropriate, even illegal activity floating from building to building," said Krueger of the company's services. "Today it's a prostitution ring, tomorrow it could be an illegal gambling ring, and maybe next week it could be a drug operation. There's really no way to know."
A New York Post article featured an interview with a prostitute claiming her escort service routinely uses Air BnB.
The Post also told the story of a woman who said she rented her apartment via Air BnB only to receive a call from police when an alleged prostitute got slashed there after getting into an argument over the price of their services.
“It’s more discreet and much cheaper than The Waldorf,” said the sex worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“Hotels have doormen and cameras. They ask questions. Apartments are usually buzz-in.”
Prostitutes routinely secure the apartments under their own AirBnB profiles then use a debit card to make payment.
The AirBnB was used last month for an orgy catering to overweight people in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. It was promoted as both “XXX Freak Fest” and “Turn Up Part 2: The Pantie Raid.” Ultimately building management shut the event down.
AirBnB is currently under investigation by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for potential violations of a city law that bans apartment sublets for less than a month, as well as evasion of the nearly 15 percent hotel tax.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
