FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Media Contact:
Bethany Khan ▪ BKhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Statement by Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union regarding AirBnb short-term rentals:
The Culinary Union opposes the applications for special use permits relating to short-term rentals.
The regulations on short-term rentals were rightly put in place to regulate a fairly new industry that has had negative effects on communities around the country.
For example, AirBnb, a popular short-term rental site, has been found to provide a platform for discriminatory rental practices, as well as to restrict affordable housing and raise rents. There are also numerous stories of rentals that turn into party houses and cause major disruptions. This new and often problematic industry should be tightly regulated and allowing exceptions to these rules sets a dangerous precedent.
The Culinary Union urges the Las Vegas City Council to deny the special use permits relating to short-term rentals before you today.
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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION:
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 143,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.
The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 54% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for over 82 years.
CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226