Portland’s island communities need mainland neighbors to help defeat Question B, which would ban almost all weekly rentals in the city of Portland, including the islands.

The islands are different. Short-term rentals are a century-old tradition. Many island homes don’t have winter water and cannot become year-round homes as the referendum authors envision. Portland’s islands are diverse communities of year-round and summer people who have not sought this change. The tradition of weekly summer cottage rentals allows moderate income families both to own homes on islands and to vacation there.

Short-term rentals may be a problem on the mainland that needs further regulation, but Question B would devastate Portland’s islands, transforming them into wealthy enclaves. Mainlanders, please vote “no” on Question B. Address short-term rentals through the City Council, which can craft nuanced solutions and modify regulations, while the referendum, if passed, can’t be changed for five years!

David Simpson
Portland