Airbnb Backs L.A.’s “Save Our Services” Push—But Won’t Put Its Name on It

Who’s Behind the “Save Our Services” Flyers Flooding Los Angeles?

Lately, Los Angeles has been awash in flyers calling on residents to “Save Our Services.” These urgent messages mention looming city budget woes, threatened layoffs, and possible cuts to essential services. But curiously, the flyers leave out one key detail: Airbnb, a major force behind the campaign.

This scenario raises eyebrows for locals and property owners alike—even folks far from L.A. can’t help but notice. With Denver’s own robust short-term rental scene, watching how Los Angeles navigates the push and pull between vacation rentals and city service funding feels especially relevant now. The strategies playing out here often ripple into markets across the West, including those in the Denver area.

What’s The Real Goal?

Look closely, and the campaign’s aim comes into clearer focus. The flyers focus on the city’s mounting financial problems, including the risks to jobs and services. Only by reading the fine print does it become clear that the proposal centers on expanding short-term rental rules—specifically, allowing second homes to be rented out through platforms like Airbnb. Backers claim that by doing so, L.A. could capture millions in new yearly tax revenue.

Supporters argue the timing is perfect, touting a potential $80 million in annual city revenue as the city prepares to host huge events like the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics. “Visitors, not locals, pay these taxes,” campaign materials note, pointing out the projected cash would bolster city services without placing additional burden on residents.

Why Is Airbnb Staying Quiet?

While a wide array of local groups, unions, and business associations have been listed as supporters, Airbnb’s name is nowhere to be found on the publications or campaign site. This didn’t slip past City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who remarked, “This is something Airbnb has pushed for years. Now, they’re using tactics that strike me as pretty misleading to win over public support.”

The company itself has confirmed their involvement but won’t say if they’ve provided financial backing. Airbnb’s public policy leader put it bluntly: “Tourism means new taxes, which means jobs and crucial city services get funded. We’re working with a diverse set of partners to back short-term rental policies that keep community needs in balance.”

Mixed Reactions—from Homeowners to Unions

Not everyone is convinced. A local photographer, Marni Lustig, initially didn’t grasp the flyer’s underlying agenda. She only realized what it meant when short-term rental expansion came up. For Marni, who’d hoped to purchase a property in L.A. for Airbnb use, the current primary residence rules have forced her to shop for homes outside city limits. Her story spotlights a problem faced by would-be hosts in many metro markets, including Denver: strict local rules can drive investment elsewhere.

Residents throughout Los Angeles have found flyers on their doors and met canvassers polling public opinion. The campaign’s website lays out a bleak budget outlook and positions rental expansion as a solution. It proposes that only a limited number of second homes be rented to travelers, suggesting this change could keep vital services funded for years to come.

L.A.’s Tough History on Short-Term Rentals

Flash back to 2018: City officials clamped down on Airbnb operations, limiting hosts to short-term rentals of their primary homes. At the time, Airbnb lobbied for second homes to be included, but council members worried about shrinking the supply of long-term rental units. The goal: avoid turning residential neighborhoods into clusters of hotel-like properties and help ease the city’s stubborn housing shortage.

Now, as the “Save Our Services” campaign seeks to revisit those rules, tension is mounting once more. Some city lawmakers remain skeptical, emphasizing that city housing stock should first serve the folks who live and work in Los Angeles—not be reserved for tourists. Other council members, usually at odds, have found common ground opposing this move, fearing that expanded short-term rental activity could push more homes out of reach for regular tenants.

Who’s Supporting (and Opposing) This Change?

The current campaign boasts support from labor groups like Teamsters Local 911 and business alliances such as the Central City Association. Yet conspicuously, no actual short-term rental platforms are publicly listed. This hasn’t fooled activists and union organizers, some of whom point out the alignment with Airbnb’s most persistent lobbying goals.

Meanwhile, unions like Unite Here Local 11, representing hotel and restaurant workers, have come out swinging against the campaign. These organizations argue that the city’s focus should be on strictly enforcing taxes already owed by short-term rental hosts, rather than creating new opportunities for these rentals. Evading these taxes, they contend, is already a real and widespread problem.

The Numbers At Stake

Advocates estimate that the plan would generate funds from two main sources: roughly $38 million per year from increased tourist-driven sales tax, and about $41 million from the city’s “transient occupancy tax” applied to short-term rentals. With the city’s ongoing budget struggles—coming up around $1 billion short this year and forced to scale back on public safety plans—officials are certainly feeling the pressure to find new revenue streams.

Still, critics remain unconvinced. Some suggest that ignoring tax collection problems only encourages hosts to claim exemptions, while others worry that shifting more properties into the short-term market further squeezes long-term renters, especially those struggling with housing affordability. “The core issue is enforcement,” says Randy Renick of the advocacy group Better Neighbors LA. He points out frequent claims from hosts that, technically, their homes aren’t inside city limits, evading required taxes in the process.

Impact on the Housing Market and Locals

Voices from across the city warn that opening up more short-term rentals would pinprick the already tight housing supply. Maria Hernandez, with Unite Here, spells it out: “The city should fine landlords who illegally convert housing into hotels and make sure platforms actually pay what they owe. Expanding short-term rentals only worsens the housing crisis for working people.”

The relationship between hotel workers and short-term rental opponents might look odd at first—they’ve debated over other issues in the past, like citywide minimum wage standards. Today, though, they’re on the same team against this campaign, united by the worry that city housing is being funneled away from residents and into the hands of short-stay visitors.

“It’s where I actually align with my colleague,” says councilmember Monica Rodriguez of her opposition to the plan, joining forces with those she’s usually at odds with.

What Lies Ahead?

On the other side, the coalition pushing for the ordinance change frames their effort as urgent and broad-based. They claim that labor, community, housing, business, and civic leaders are all committed to finding “immediate and practical solutions” to shore up L.A.’s city finances, suggesting that rental expansion is the most effective option on the table right now.

For those watching from Denver or any city navigating the balance between welcoming visitors and protecting local residents, the L.A. debate offers lessons. Sometimes, grassroots-looking campaigns are steered by powerful players, and the fine print often matters more than glossy slogans. In the end, whether these changes happen or not, the conversation shakes up how cities think about tourism, taxation, and keeping homes truly local.