Airbnb confirms role in Save Our Services L.A. flier campaign

When Marni Lustig saw a flier for the Save Our Services campaign, she didn't immediately grasp what she was reading.

- BY NOAH GOLDBERG

A CHANGE in L.A.'s short-term rental law would benefit such firms as Airbnb.

The flier appeared to be about Los Angeles' budget crisis, potential layoffs of city workers and possible cuts to public services.

Then, she spotted a sentence about expanding short-term rentals and realized the campaign applied directly to her.

Lustig wants to buy a home and rent it through Airbnb, but the city allows short-term rentals only for primary residences. The campaign aims to legalize Airbnb and similar rentals for second homes, which, according to supporters, would generate tax revenue to help address the budget crisis.

"Because we're not allowed to [rent out second homes] here, I've been looking outside of the city. So they'll get my money, not L.A.," said Lustig, a fashion photographer who lives in a Pico-Robertson rental that she lists on Airbnb.

In the last few weeks, residents around the city have been flooded with fliers hung on their doors and canvassers polling them about Save Our Services. Some of the fliers don't mention short-term rentals and describe only the budget crisis while including a QR code for the campaign's website.

That website paints a grim picture of the city's finances and proposes a solution: allowing "a limited number of people to rent their second homes to travelers.”

Supporters say the plan could generate about $80 million in tax revenue annually, especially as tourists descend on L.A. for the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics.

“We can generate millions in new tourism revenue dedicated for L.A.’s long-term recovery — paid for by tourists, not taxpayers,” the website says.

Fliers for the campaign, which urges the City Council to amend the short-term rental ordinance to include second homes, list as supporters a broad coalition of groups, including unions such as Teamsters Local 911 and the business-aligned Central City Assn.