HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - K. Matusow - Vote NO on Ordinance 2149From:KEVIN MATUSOW
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Vote NO on Ordinance 2149
Date:Tuesday, October 17, 2023 11:52:02 AM
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Hello,
My wife and I have a home here in Bozeman and ask that the City Commission vote No on
Ordinance 2149 today. We will be attending the meeting and planning to voice our oppositionto the City Commision impending vote on this issue. We’ve attended numerous meetings
regarding the issues with STRs and we think the City Commision is making a grossmiscalculation in approving this ordinance. It does not affect the housing crisis here in
Bozeman and while a small number of people are creating unprecedented pressure upon theCity Commission to act, this Ordinance is not the way to do it. We agree that there is a
housing issue in Bozeman but cutting on STRs is not the answer. Building more housing is. If I was forced to turn my home into long term rental, not only would I not be able to use my
home for myself and my family, I would be forced to charge a fee that would be far and awaymore than anyone struggling to rent a home would be able to afford. Unless the city was
going to subsidize my home, this is a bandaid applied to a part of the body that’s not damaged.We fully support measures and ordinances that would allow for the building and construction
of low income housing, but to take away jobs and income from Bozeman residents is not theway to do it. We are fully in support of cracking down on illegal STRs, as Ordinance 2131,
which hasn’t even gone into effect yet, would do. Why would the City Commission eliminate the majority of the STRs before this even has a chance to play out? The Commision
already heard the facts from the 3rd party group that STRs are not the issue, and so this feelsmore like a public relations decision rather than sound judgement. We implore you to re-
examine the facts and make the correct decision to vote no on Ordinance 2149. If you areforced to vote yes, then as a legal permit holder, I also expect that there be grandfathered rules
in as has been the case in every other instance when it comes to STRs among many otherchanges. We can and should work together to make decisions that help the city of Bozeman
and those residents that are impacted by the housing crisis. Wiping out a majority of STRswill not only affect the local economy, but local residents who work and provide services for
these STRs will lose their jobs and their businesses. Also, where will all of the families andvisitors that come to Bozeman stay for vacation / work / travel / adventure if they are forced to
stay in hotel rooms? STRs are good for the economy, filling a critical need for tourists,families with kids, visiting professionals and for families bringing their kids to school. We
implore you to reconsider a yes vote and vote NO on Ordinance 2149.
Thank you.
Kevin Matusow
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