To the editor:
I would like to share my thoughts on Lincoln County Ballot Measure 21–203, which would phase out short-term rentals in unincorporated areas of the county. But first I’d like to tell you a little bit about my family history in regards to Lincoln County.
My grandparents were early visitors to the Roads End area of Lincoln City long before I was born. In the early 1960s my grandparents built two homes on 66th Street — one home for them to live in for several decades and one for my family to visit.
I have countless wonderful memories of our family trips to Lincoln County and, eventually, taking my own family to stay at the coast. Today, my sons and daughter thoroughly enjoy staying in our house in Roads End. However, the only way we can afford to keep and maintain the home is to rent it out.
Our family is against measure 21-203 because our short-term rental house is allowing my sisters, my children, nieces, nephew and my grandchildren to continue making awesome new memories and adventures in Lincoln County just as I did as a child.
— Claire Hess, Citrus Heights, Calif.
So clearly you are not a local resident rather a vacationer that happens to own property in the town. How about local community members that work hard to make ends meet, often 2-3 jobs at a time, that can’t find housing because anything that could be a long term rental, is a vacation rental. But never mind that, your concerned with making memories …..
Eliminating all short term rentals will significantly reduce the number of jobs available. Many people have not had these homes in their families for generations. They paid high prices for these homes. There is no way to rent them out long term for cheap- they will rent them for the $3000 / month they have to pay on their mortgage. Or they will let them sit vacant. These measures will not do anything to solve affordable housing issues. That is something the county needs to take on. Eliminating all short term rentals will impact the economy greatly.
According to the city map 66th Street is within the city limits so not in an unincorporated area. This measure would have no effect on your property.