The City of Portland has been trying to have more oversight of short-term rentals for a number of years as City Hall balances competing goals:

• Housing advocates concern Airbnb rentals reduce the number of rentals
• Hotel industry concern about Airbnb rentals reducing occupancy rates
• Airbnb offices located in Portland provide jobs helping local economy
• Airbnb and other short-term rentals pay taxes and earn citizens income

Here are a few examples of the timeline.

• July 1, 2014 Airbnb began collecting the 11.5% Transient Lodging Tax on behalf of their hosts. Airbnb is reporting and remitting funds to the City of Portland Revenue Division on a monthly basis, regardless of permit status.
• February, 2017 The City announced $1,000 day fines as of 3/31/17 for Airbnb rentals not fully permitted. Number of Airbnbs drops slightly.
• August, 2018 The City found over 4,600 rentals with the vast majority (88%) not having needed city permits. The city collected taxes on 100% of the Airbnbs.
• October, 2019 The City of Portland and Airbnb announced Airbnb rentals without the needed new licenses would be shut down on 12/31/2020.
• January 5, 2020 I did a spot check of 14 Airbnb rentals in Portland:
  • 43% had the needed licenses
  • All rentals were taking reservations into the first quarter of 2020

Stay tuned as Airbnb and hotel industry continue to collide at City Hall.

Number of Airbnb Listings in Portland, OR by City of Portland, August, 2018

The best graphics are often elegant in their simplicity of displaying complexity. Such as this one by Nabih Ibrahim Bawazir posted this diagram on LinkedIn 1/1/2020 with credit to Shahanka M. Perhaps Excel could be listed on it.

I’m amazed at the creativity shown in this health data analysis as reported by David Neigh in Sciencealert.com December 7, 2019.

“In terms of biological ageing, the body seems to shift gears three times during our lifespans, new research suggests – with 34 years, 60 years and 78 years the key thresholds.

In other words, we now have evidence that ageing isn’t one long, continuous process that moves at the same speed throughout our lives.”

Here is my Toastmasters speech on Climate Change. My participation with Toastmasters has really helped my presentation skills. The journey has certainly been aided by the support and constructive feedback from the great group of people involved with Rivers Edge group..