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There is no nice way to say it. We have sacrificed the things that made Cook County special. Our working population is leaving. Our retired population is moving out to be with family that couldn’t stay. Not that they want to leave but they can’t live here. Living on the street is not a choice nor is living with mom or dad.
Disappointment: Why keep trying to buy a home when each time (four, specifically) you are outbid. And why do you have to buy a home? Because there are no long-term rentals. What was your home is now a short-term vacation rental so out the working people go, and an affordable home is but a dream.
Our backbone of employable people who wanted to live here, is leaving. They can’t outbid wealth.
So, who is going to do their jobs? Where will they live? The revolving door keeps going around. How many more times this summer?
Look at the turnover at the courthouse, school, and the ads for workers at the hospital and resorts. Some of these ads have been the same for months. Ask yourself why, but you know the answer.
For a start do you see a need to limit the short-term VRBO industry?
Did you know a firm has been hired to review the licensing piece only? That does not address the number of units. There is currently no limit to how much real estate can be gobbled up. This industry is like a cancer –it eats its host, it doesn’t care. To get this into check requires lots of energy and care from the outside.
Two Harbors is working on a control. The same problems are shared by us. Two Harbors put a moratorium on VRBOs. They have an ordinance amendment with a rental permit cap. A limit is clearly defined. It was published in last weeks’ paper.
A moratorium is a temporary prohibition of an activity. It involves a lot of work to correct the problem it refers too. It will be extremely offensive to the short-term rental business and opposed by the real estate business.
It’s a way to start.
Let’s not lose anymore of our uniqueness or the valuable working people who keep us running and provide all these needed services.
References: Cook County Vacation Rental Ordinance #62, Two Harbors Ordinance No. 126.
Arvis Thompson,
District 4.
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