Should LA loosen restrictions on Airbnb ahead of the Olympics?

Should LA loosen restrictions on Airbnb ahead of the Olympics?

Los Angeles officials are considering a pair of Airbnb-backed proposals that would temporarily loosen city regulations on short-term rentals and allow the company to pre-pay a portion of the lodging taxes it collects from tourists. If approved by the City Council, the first proposal would allow Airbnb hosts to rent second homes and investment properties on the platform through 2028 — something the home-sharing giant has long sought, but the city of L.A. has prohibited since 2018. The second proposal would involve Airbnb paying some portion of the transient occupancy tax it collects from tourists to the city of Los Angeles ahead of time to assist with the city’s budget troubles. That could generate tens of millions of dollars more for the city per year, according to the company. Joining to discuss the regulatory history of Airbnb in the city, how people are responding to the latest proposal, and more is Rick Cole, current Pasadena city councilmember and former Chief Deputy City Controller of the city of Los Angeles, and Noah Suarez-Sikes, lead organizer with Better Neighbors L.A. What do you think about this proposal? Do you want to see restrictions loosened for Airbnb rentals? Are you considering rental options ahead of the Olympics? Are you concerned about more Airbnb rentals throughout the city?

With files from LAist. Read more here.

How to navigate the financial side of a divorce or split

Ending a relationship is tough for all of the reasons one might expect. But in Los Angeles, ending a long-term relationship doesn’t just take an emotional toll, but also a financial one. You go from splitting critical bills like rent and groceries to going it alone, and the economics of scale are not on your side. You may be able to afford to rent out a two bedroom space by splitting the rent with a partner, but may struggle to even land a one bedroom place on your own. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you: what sort of unexpected economic factors cropped up as a result of your divorce, or ending of a long-term relationship? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com. Joining Austin this morning to give the expert take on this situation is Kristine Rushing, certified divorce financial analyst and mediator with Financial Harmony, LLC.

Talking seafood with the minds behind Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill

If you’re driving along York Blvd, toward Eagle Rock, you’ll see a variety of Mediterranean, Mexican, and pizza spots. Alongside these businesses, you’ll find Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill, a standout seafood spot in the area that has a South Carolina-inspired menu full of oysters and other fish-centric entrees. This operation has been put together by the managing director, Joe Laraja, and Ari Kolender, the executive chef, whose prior experience was opening the Massachusetts-inspired Found Oyster.

Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk to Joe and Ari about opening their Southern-style seafood spot in Eagle Rock, and lay out how they created their menu.

FilmWeek: ‘Michael,’ ‘Over Your Dead Body,’ ‘Blue Heron,’ and more!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Beandrea July and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Michael, Wide Release
Over Your Dead Body, Wide Release
Ricky, In Select Theaters
Blue Heron, AMC Burbank & the Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]
Just Sing, Laemmle NoHo
I Swear, In Select Theaters
Something Casual, Laemmle Royal [West LA] April 25|Laemmle NoHo April 24 & 26
Apex, Landmark Westwood|Streaming on Netflix
Fuze, Wide Release
Kangaroo Island, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]