Island Stewards to host pre-hearing Q&A Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm. via ZOOM
|| FROM ISLAND STEWARDS |||
Please Take Action!
2nd Public Hearing 9 March 2021
Opposition to Moratorium Grows!
San Juan County (SJC) Council will be continuing an on-line public hearing to discuss whether the moratorium on the issuance of Vacation Rental Permits should be maintained or abandoned.
Action Items:
Got Questions? Get them answered this Sunday afternoon at 4pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Read the 5 March announcement regarding this hearing by the Vacation Rental Working Group.
(Considerable opposition to the moratorium unexpectedly emerged at the 23 Feb hearing: most opposition is from San Juan Island.)
MOST IMPORTANTLY
If the Moratorium is to pass, Your Voice is Needed Now
How To Participate in this hearing:
(SJC announcement re 23 feb hearing)
EMAIL
Write to councilpc@sanjuanco.com
Subject: Enact VR Moratorium
Be polite. Tell your story. State your feelings.
CALL
To call in on the day, we recommend not participating in the Microsoft Teams; it is best to call in by phone.
(360) 726-3293 — Conference ID 605671648#
If you call, when it is your turn to speak, the last 4 digits of your phone number will be announced. Press “*6” (star then 6) to unmute yourself. Introduce yourself, what island you’re from, and why the moratorium is important to you. Out of respect for the Council and other speakers, please stay within the 3 minute time limit.
(need ideas for what to say? see the comments that other signers have left)
A new group entitled Hosting on the Rock opposes the moratorium. Read their outreach
Background:
Visit VacationRentalsOrcas.org for a comprehensive explanation of the public concern about overtourism and the negative impacts of Vacation Rentals in the County.
Since summer 2019, over 3000 individuals have signed a change.org petition to request a moratorium on the issuance of new Vacation Rental Permits.
I think it would be wise and appropriate for you to let your readers know, that this is not an official County Council Meeting, as the header implies.
Also, this doesn’t sound like a news story, it sounds like an advertisement for the Island Stewards and the anti-Vacation Rental Working Group.
For the record…this zoom event is not in any way sanctioned by SJC Council. It is an Islands Stewards event.
If you are interested in the vacation rental discussion, listen to the recording of the February 23rd Council meeting regarding Vacation Rentals, where you will hear both perspectives. Until you hear what both sides have to say, your opinion can only be biased. These are complex issues. Let’s discuss them, not take hardline stances.
Link to Recording: https://media.avcaptureall.com/session.html?sessionid=93a84ed1-e48f-4199-8bd5-a6102f55fd8c&prefilter=30,5838