PITTSBURGH — Joe Smith is still trying to process the chaos that occurred steps away from his East Allegheny home at the Airbnb on the corner of Suismon Street.
“You didn’t really hear anything, and then you heard everything and saw literally 100 people running down the street. They were knocking over each other, being run over by cars,” said Smith.
Two teenage boys were killed, nine injured by gun shots and five others hurt early Easter Sunday morning at the party.
Today during City Council, Pittsburgh District 1 Council Member Bobby Wilson introduced legislation requiring anyone operating short-term rentals to get a license from the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections.
“Basically, it’s the first step to regulate short-term rentals,” said Wilson.
This all comes days after teens jumped out of windows fighting for their lives as they tried to dodge gunfire.
Wilson says the legislation had been in the works for months, but the recent tragedy has expedited the legislative process.
“I’m not under the standing that this is going to solve violent crime in the city of Pittsburgh, but I think this is a tool we can use to help,” said Wilson.
Under the proposed legislation:
- The license would need to be renewed each year by the owner of the short-term rental property.
- Contact information must be given to city officials if a problem happens at the property.
- There would be a limit on how many guests can stay in each short-term rental at a single time.
- Finally, the owner of the property would be required to keep a log of guests, with their home addresses and contact details.
Smith says he supports the proposal — in particular, a limit on how many people can stay at the property at a time, but he has additional questions over how to fully enforce it, and keep those rentals from being used as pop-up party houses.
“More regulation around that would be something that’s better. I’m not necessarily sure if that would solve the shooting issue that happened,” said Smith.
“This is just another tool and also a mechanism that the community can have a better understanding of what’s in their neighborhood,” said Wilson.
The legislation is not a done deal, as City Council is set to review the details Wednesday at a committee meeting.
They will then modify and edit it over time.
The council will vote on it in the next couple of months.
Airbnb has said the person who rented this location is banned for life, and they’re taking legal action against them.
Councilman Bobby Wilson tells Channel 11 the Airbnb and short term rental bill will be held for a week. City Council will discuss it Wednesday, hold it for a week, then they will go back to the table on the 27th of April.
The soonest it could go for a final vote would be May 2nd.
This browser does not support the video element.