Airbnb vs. San Francisco: Round One Goes to the Opposition
Airbnb has spent more than $8 million to fight San Francisco’s Proposition F, a proposal on the November ballot to ban the sharing-economy website from serving the city.
But one part of its strategy appears to have backfired. In an attempt to foster sympathy, the company put up ads all over San Francisco noting that it brought in $12 million in taxes; one ad, for example, read, “Dear Parking Enforcement, Please use the $12 million in hotel taxes to feed all expired parking meters. Love, Airbnb.”
Many city residents were not amused, though, and blasted the company on social media. Airbnb spokesman Christopher Nully said in a statement, “It was the wrong tone and we apologize to anyone who was offended. These ads are being taken down immediately.”
The company removed the ads on Thursday and issued an apology.
We apologize for Wednesday’s SF ads. They displayed poor judgment and do not live up to the values and humanity of our global community.
— Airbnb (@Airbnb) October 22, 2015
—Anna Gleksman
