Portland’s referendum process is flawed, and the Democratic Socialists of America-backed referendum to ban many short-term rentals will hurt Portland residents. Only 1,500 signatures are required to propose legislation to the Portland City Council, which must either adopt the measure or let it go directly to the voters in a referendum.

The rules, in effect, also prohibit the council from modifying any referendum passed by the electorate for five years. Thus, if the referendum authored by the DSA that would ban all short-term rentals of homes other than primary residences passes, all such short-term rentals in the whole city will be banned without recourse for five years.

The DSA’s stated goal is to increase affordable housing available year-round, but the sloppily drafted proposed ban includes seasonal island homes that can be occupied only in the summer, and it makes no allowances for differences between Portland’s island communities and the mainland.

Peaks Island Council member Peter McLaughlin, quoted in a recent article (“Short-term rental proposal sparks debate about impact on Peaks and other Portland islands,” Aug. 24), misled Press Herald readers when he encouraged support for the ban while expressing confidence that the Peaks Island Council, an advisory group with no legislative authority, and/or the City Council would modify the ban “in the implementation” to correct the unintended consequences on the islands, but such modification is prohibited. And the Press Herald did not serve its readers well by failing to explain the referendum process and the fallacy of McLaughlin’s empty promises.

Carol Eisenberg
Peaks Island