April 10, 2007
The Chamber has made a very important decision.
On March 26, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce voted to go on record to not support the recently proposed ordinance restricting Private Home Rentals (PHR) in the City of Big Bear Lake.
According to the recent independent economic study, there is no question that if the proposed ordinance passed it would be detrimental to the economy by way of fewer visitors to the valley, fewer jobs, reduced real estate values, less money for government services, and the list goes on. Even if one would question the survey, there is no positive outcome for the local economy as a whole.
The Chamber is supportive of the City’s latest proposed enforcement ordinance putting teeth into and authorizing fines as appropriate in conjunction with the existing ordinance, which sanctions and regulates Private Home Rentals. In addition, it supports the PHR industry’s recent efforts to make improvements to our neighborhoods with the new 24/7 hotline and the Good Neighbor Program.
The Chamber of Commerce’s main role is to promote a strong local economy. The Board of Directors believes it is obligated by its own mission statement to oppose this ordinance and will continue to protect the economy and business environment at large from unnecessary anti-business legislation.
The Chamber would have liked to stay neutral on this controversial issue because we have members on both sides of it. However, now that the ordinance has been filed and the economic study completed, we feel we have no choice but to make this decision. |
