The End of AirBNB in NYC?; Chasing The Dream - "From Madison Avenue To Rikers Island: The Making of a Social Entrepeneur"

MetroFocus: The Podcast

The End of AirBNB in NYC?

Since its inception, Airbnb has become an increasingly popular option for tourists visiting New York City. In 2022, short-term rental listings across the city, like Airbnb and VRBO, generated $85 million in revenue. While visitors have enjoyed the lower prices and larger spaces that short-term rentals can offer, some residents have blamed these spaces for issues like noise, cleanliness, and even skyrocketing rents. In response, the city recently passed a new law that severely limits the number of short-term rentals by requiring rental hosts to register with the city and restricting the number of guests that can stay in these units. Will the new restrictions help reverse rising rental prices? And do they constitute a “De facto ban on business,” as Airbnb claims? Joining us to discuss the issue are: Amanda Hoover, general assignment staff writer for Wired; and Margenett Moore-Roberts, a homeowner in Brooklyn who previously rented on Airbnb.

Chasing The Dream - "From Madison Avenue To Rikers Island: The Making of a Social Entrepeneur"

Far too often, former criminal offenders wind up back behind bars after their release, in part because they are not given the proper training or resources to turn their lives around. Mark Goldsmith has been working to change that with his organization, Getting Out Staying Out, a nonprofit that helps young people incarcerated on Rikers Island re-enter society, and stay out of trouble, by providing them with education and employment opportunities, skills training, and emotional wellbeing resources. Mark has not always been focused on this mission, though. He spent most of his career as a successful executive in the cosmetics industry before pivoting to a career in service. He wrote about this transition in his book, “From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island: The Making of a Social Entrepreneur,” to encourage others who have spent their careers working in commercial industries that it is never too late to take up a life of service.