New poll data released by a group of advocates that are against new short-term regulations approved by the Jersey City Council last month show that the majority of voters are in support of their position by a slim margin.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The poll, conducted by Expedition Strategies between June 17th and June 20th, asked 374 Jersey City voters a series of questions about what they think about Airbnb operating in their city.
While the entire poll has not been released, a memo has highlighted a handful of the issues addressed.
54 percent of voters oppose the ordinance the city council passed on June 26th, the memo says.
Some of the provisions of the new law, sponsored by Ward E Councilman James Solomon and Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey, including instituting a 60-day cap for short-term rental properties if the owner is not on site, semi-regular inspections and providing guest logs to the city upon request.
According to Expedition Strategies, only 15 percent strongly support these changes, while 31 percent strongly oppose them.
Furthermore, 35 percent support an outright ban on short-term rentals, compared to 57 percent who are against (nine percent said they don’t know), based on the poll memo.
Airbnb, joined by local advocates, announced last week that they would be pushing to have a referendum question on short-term rentals on the November 5th ballot.
Prior to the council vote, Mayor Steven Fulop came out in favor of the measures sponsored by Solomon and Prinz-Arey.
