Letters: How many Airbnbs are too many?
How many Airbnbs are too many?
My wife and I have lived in the Northwood Shores neighborhood for over 30 years. We have spent a lot of time, energy and money to create our personal sanctuary. It is so peaceful and idyllic. However, we now worry that our solitude will be shattered as our neighbor wants to turn her home into an Airbnb. It’s understandable that tourists go on vacation to have a good time. However, their actions often affect the quality of life for the permanent residents. Three of the four homes surrounding her home are retired couples and there are already three Airbnb’s on our street. How do we protect the integrity of the neighborhood? Can we restrict the number of these short-term rentals?
Richard Wagener, West Palm Beach
FOR SUBSCRIBERS: North Palm Beach latest to consider rental registration. Will a $450 fee stop parties, parking issues?
High rents will hurt voting
Any help with escalating rents will come too late to help those who have been forced out of the addresses for which they are registered to vote. Many will find new rental homes but forget to re-register before the upcoming elections. Was this the real reason that Republican leaning landlords conspired to divest them of not only home, but political voice to effect any positive change?
Rita Majercik, West Palm Beach
George Will's reasoning is flawed
In his May 8 column, George Will excoriated the leaker of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade draft. Will said the leaker “probably got into a position to commit this infamous betrayal by swearing never to do such a thing. If justice is done, this person will never again practice law.…” Not once did Will mention that the five justices who indicated they will overturn the law allowing abortion testified in their Senate confirmation hearings that they wouldn’t do so. By Will’s reasoning, justice demands those five be removed from the court and never again serve as judges. What they did was commit perjury.
Bob Brink, Boynton Beach
Abortion more about ‘religious freedom’
Every time the abortion issue comes up, I am reminded that it is all about the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that provides a “right to privacy” that protects a pregnant woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. This may be the legal argument but I don’t think that is the real-life issue.
I think it is more about religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Some religious groups believe that life begins at conception. There are others that believe in science instead of the Bible, and they believe life begins once it is viable. This difference is the real point of contention. It seems to me that those who believe in life at conception have the right to not have abortions. I also believe that forcing the state to ignore the religious rights of the believers in science by denying them access to abortion is unconstitutional. We must maintain the separation of church and state. No one should be forced to follow the teachings of any religion if they don’t want to.
Michael Kalisz, North Palm Beach
More: Editorial: Ending Roe v. Wade shouldn't curb Florida privacy rights
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Airbnbs threatening idyllic Northwood Shores neighborhood
