PITTSBURGH — Last month, Airbnb announced an annual crackdown on New Year’s Eve parties.
The rules come after two teens died following a mass shooting at an Airbnb during a party in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood in the Northside.
Bonnie McLain’s grandson, Matthew Steffy-Ross, was murdered at that party. She still wears a shirt with his photo on it.
“Things get forgotten so quickly,” McLain said. “Lives of many kids and him and Jaiden, all the kids who got hurt that night.”
Jaiden Brown was also killed at the party in April 2022.
No one has ever been charged or arrested for the shooting.
Since that massive party. and others across the country, Airbnb began cracking down.
“Just the fact that they’re doing something, to me, is significant,” said McLain.
The company now uses AI technology to flag “high-risk bookings.” It screens the length of stay, the type of listing and how far the guest is traveling.
Airbnb said they believe they stopped around 33,000 bookings in 2023, including massive New Year’s Eve parties.
“Too late for us but not too late for other residents of the city of Pittsburgh. I want them to be safe. I want the adults to be safe, I want the children to be safe,” McLain said
The city has also passed legislation that requires all short and long-term rentals tobe regulated. This means property owners will have to apply for a permit to operate and pass an inspection.
As for the deaths of the two teens, Channel 11 has reported that a grand jury is hearing testimony on the shooting, but at this point, no one has been indicted.
McLain is confident that her grandson and Jaiden Brown will get justice.
“Your day will happen. I don’t know when, but I know that it will,” McLain said.
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