As much as I want to see AirBnB collapse, I’m not sure that would solve the problem at this point. AirBnB is a criminal enterprise at its core. They will just “innovate” around the regulations or bans, and create a black market for short term rentals. This has played out across the world with this organized crime group and its local syndicates. Stop thinking of them like a company, and start thinking of them like a mafia. Real estate has always been a mafia favorite, after all.

You don’t solve a mafia problem by banning the product they’re pushing, or playing whack a mole with the groups. You solve it by beating them at their own game, or destroying their market for harmful goods.

The carrot: flood the market with higher quality goods at a lower price that only the government can provide, and the mafia goes away. Provide a public option for housing.

The stick: Restrict the number of homes one person can own. Make property taxes punitive for property hoarders, so they could never possibly be profitable. I think a 15% annual tax on homes that aren’t primary residences sounds right to me.

I’d also really like to see a government agency crawl so far up the asses of these AirBnB owners and find all the mortgage fraud, code violations, PPP fraud, and tax fraud that’s undoubtedly lurking below the surface. Bury them in audits and inspections, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. None of these people are innocent. Give me a man and I’ll find the crime. Then use those convictions to build a RICO case against the head of the beast. Scorch Airbnb and salt the earth so VRBO can’t grow from the ashes.