During the recent back and forth about FIMFO, I repeatedly questioned why there wasn’t similar outrage about the incursion of AIRBNB into the local market. 

Local real estate professionals typically promote potential Airbnb income in their listings. Most of the short-term rentals offered locally are not providing life-or-death income to owners—a specious argument offered by the Lords of Airbnb. 

So, predictably, the situation has reached a tipping point. Leave hospitality to the professionals. 

I perfectly understand that FIMFO must proceed with rethinking some aspects of their project—the review process will facilitate this. But having one site in town that will maintain the legacy of the area as a vacation destination for families will help preserve the peace that these full-time Montgomery Lake owners, for example, are seeking. 

Finally, the specter of the “out-of-town greedy corporation” spiriting money away that has been an argument against FIMFO is actually more fitting when applied to Airbnb.

Christopher Frey
Delmar, NY