Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2019-043 the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Geller)

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING AIRBNB, INC.’S (“AIRBNB”) DECISION TO REMOVE FROM ITS PLATFORM LISTINGS OF RENTAL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS ESTABLISHED IN DISPUTED TERRITORY WITHIN THE WEST BANK; ENCOURAGING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO PENALIZE AIRBNB FOR THIS DECISION; PROHIBITING REIMBURSEMENT FOR LODGING EXPENSES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO BOOK THEIR LODGING FOR PUBLIC BUSINESS TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIRBNB PLATFORM; DIRECTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

(Sponsored by Senator Steve Geller)

(Per the Tuesday Morning Memorandum, Commissioner Udine and Mayor Bogen requested being co-sponsors to this item.)

ACTION:  (T-11:06 AM)  Approved.  Commissioner Rich requested being a co-sponsor to this item.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  9-0.

Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.

Enables the adoption of the above-described Resolution.

In November 2018, Airbnb, Inc. (“Airbnb”), removed from its online platform all listings of properties located within Israeli settlements in the disputed West Bank, while continuing to allow the listing of other properties (non-Jewish owned) in this disputed area. While Airbnb claims to oppose the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement that seeks to delegitimize Israel, the fact that Airbnb has not taken similar actions with regard to other disputed territories in the world belies and demonstrates the hypocrisy of Airbnb’s action.

Through the adoption of this Resolution, Broward County condemns Airbnb’s action as discriminatory and hypocritical, encourages Airbnb to reverse course, encourages the Florida Governor and President of the United States to take all actions permissible under applicable law to sanction Airbnb, and prohibits reimbursement of lodging expenses for County travel booked on the Airbnb platform. This Resolution also directs the County Administrator to transmit a copy to Governor DeSantis, the President of the United States, and to all members of Broward County’s congressional and state legislative delegations.