— by Susan Bradford —

First of all, let me thank Steve Mckenna ( see orcasissues.com/guest-opinion-moratorium-on-vacation-rentals-needed-immediately ) for opening this discussion. It has obviously sparked a lot of thought-provoking comments. I would like to weigh in as one who has recently been directly affected by this situation.

I have lived on Orcas for twelve years as a person who has happily rented by choice, as I have my entire 69 years on this planet. I am not without means, and yet when the owners of the house my partner and I had been renting for six years told us that they were selling it, we were unable to find another place to rent. Not merely an affordable place, but any place at all.

Luckily, we own a boat that is big enough to sleep on and that is where we currently reside along with our two cats. While the adjustment has been OK for all four of us, it was not our choice and that is the point.

All the discussions above were theoretical, and I confess that I care not a whit for the economics of it all, not do I pretend to understand it. What I do know is this. In the process of searching for a place and telling everyone I know what our predicament has been, so many people have shared stories of their own that are similar or much worse. This is anecdotal to be sure, but must count for something in assessing the Big Picture of what is happening on this island.

Whether we stay on Orcas or not is very much up in the air at this point. The climate seems to have changed quite a bit in the past 12 years, and it may not be a good fit for us anymore. To be sure rentals are not easy to find in other parts of the country. But I lived in New York City during the housing crisis of the 1970’s, and always managed to find decent housing. And have ever since. Every place I lived until now! Trust me that 12 years ago when we came here, you could still rent a house on Orcas. That does not seem to be true anymore. And the houses that are for rent are over priced to say the least. Case in point. We were offered a cabin with no toilet and a rudimentary kitchen for $750/month. They had to be kidding!

I do not know what the answer is. But I do know that it does not lie in economics or the rights of property owners. Rather it seems to go hand in hand with compassion. Again, I am a person who is renting by choice and have the ability to pay a decent rent. Others are not so lucky. What will happen to them? And what will happen to such a small Eco-structure such as Orcas that cannot provide for its own? It is in the answers to these kinds of questions that the solution lies.

Fact gathering, changing policies, writing new laws and ordinances all take time. And this is all happening right now! And valuable people are moving away, or cannot come. People who provide services and people who provide love for this land and this island.

Of course, economics matter. And of course, property owners have rights. Those who bought their houses on this island many years ago are set! Those who are buying now have at least some financial security. Is Orcas to become an island that does not care about the rest of its population? Has Orcas lost its soul? I hope not!

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