NEW ORLEANS - District "C" Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer has released the following statement in response to recent news of the City's contractor, HR&A, and its previous work with short term rental (STR) company, Airbnb:

"HR&A was hired and approved by the administration for this study, in consultation with councilmembers. The Council only learned this week of the contractor's prior work with STR platform, Airbnb. If this information was disclosed at any point to the City during the contracting process, it did not reach the Council. It raises questions and concerns about the impartiality of the information provided in the study and we are actively reviewing how we can ensure this doesn't happen again.  

Over the past year, the Council has worked tirelessly to update and improve the City's STR rules and regulations, soliciting input from residents, operators, businesses, and the City Planning Commission. Next week, we plan to move ahead with new policies to the STR program based on the principles that have guided us from day one: preserving our neighborhoods and creating the strongest provisions possible for a housing policy that addresses our affordability crisis."

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Media Contact:

Tiffaney Bradley

Communications Director

Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District "C"

Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov

(504) 658-1034