Destroying New York City’s Hotels and Tourism Industry for Power and Political Gain
City Councilwoman Julie Menin is on the verge of securing a veto-proof majority for a bill that could severely impact New York City’s hotel industry and negatively affect tourism as the city continues to recover from the pandemic.
Her main motivation seems to be gaining the support of influential hotel unions for her upcoming candidacy for council speaker.
Despite the potential consequences of the “Safe Hotel Act”, such as increased room rates and displacement of nonunion workers, Menin is determined to push it through. The act would require hotels to obtain yearly operating licenses, prohibit them from outsourcing critical services, and mandate the employment of only unionized workers.
Vijay Dandapani, president of the Hotel Association of New York City, warns that the act could have a catastrophic impact on the industry, likening it to a “nuclear bomb”.
This legislation follows other anti-tourism laws inspired by hotel unions, such as restrictions on AirBnB rentals and permits required to build new hotels. However, no new applications have been submitted for permits in the past two years, indicating the strong influence of the union in preventing non-unionized hotels from forming.
Menin claims the act is a measure to combat crime, but data from the NYPD and 911 complaints do not support this assertion. Despite this, the Police Benevolent Association has voiced support for the bill, possibly due to shared interests with the hotel union.
The push to eliminate nonunion jobs at hotels could lead to closures and give the hotel union significant control over the industry. This trend could make it increasingly difficult for non-wealthy individuals to visit the city for leisure, ultimately hurting various sectors of the hospitality industry and non-high-end retailers.
The actions of the City Council, influenced by special interests and ideologues, are contributing to a decline in livability for ordinary New Yorkers. Menin’s backing of this toxic measure to advance her own political ambitions is further evidence of the corrupt nature of the city’s Legislature.
