Airbnb Won Its San Francisco Fight and Prepared for More - 25 Moments in 2015

Airbnb won its battle against a San Francisco ballot measure in November 2015 that sought to put teeth into current rules for short-term rentals in its own hometown.

But rather than silence critics, the ballot battle raised issues in other cities about how they can regulate and/or tax the service.

During the fight, Airbnb settled on its lobbying message for the next cycle of conflicts: Airbnb is about helping people afford their homes during tough economic times. This certainly plays better than focusing on its nearly $30 billion valuation and support by some of the richest venture capitalists on the planet. Whether this can withstand the pressures of data disclosures that result in tougher restrictions is likely a race against time.

The Full Story:

• Atmosphere in San Francisco Grows More Hostile for Airbnb as Vote Nears
• San Francisco Underdogs Bet on Tech to Beat Airbnb’s $10 Million Ballot Push
• Airbnb Defeats Restrictive Ballot Measure in San Francisco