Daily Briefing: Short-term rentals the bane of tourism destinations worldwide

Maybe the fact that this housing crisis is worldwide means it will be quicker and easier to come up with a solution? ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Fri Jul 12 2024 Lynne Sullivan | Regional Executive Editor [@LSullivan73]( So we just got back from a trip to Italy, and of course I learned a lot and saw a lot and experienced a lot of wonderful things. But I'm still a journalist and one little thing stuck out to me in each tour: Florence, Rome, Amsterdam − they all have a housing problem. The cities have become outrageously expensive to live in, for the average Italian or Dutch person. It's not that there is no housing − there are beautiful apartments in each city center. The problem is, they have all been scooped up and are now being rented out to tourists, through programs like Airbnb. One tour guide told us she was able to live near St. Peter's square only because she and her husband inherited his parents' apartment. This bit of information piqued my interest because it's so similar to what's going on in much of Rhode Island. I have a son who is renting a gigantic, beautiful beach home in Narragansett next school year, but only three boys will be living in it because Narragansett [was trying to limit]( the number of renters in each unit earlier this year. And now in Newport, City Councilors are hoping to [close a loophole]( that they fear will lead to an increase in short-term rentals. I don't know what the answer is. Obviously we want the tourism dollars here in Rhode Island (as I'm sure they want them in Florence and Rome and Amsterdam). The problem is, you need workers to staff all those restaurants and museums and canal boats − and they need someplace affordable to live. Maybe the fact that this housing crisis is worldwide means it will be quicker and easier to come up with a solution? (Or maybe my jet-lagged brain is entirely too optimistic!) Worth a read: 🌺 We know that our hydrangea are abundant this year. But have you ever wondered why some are pink, some or light blue and others are deep purple? [Here's your answer](. 👨‍⚖️ Their son died after consuming a super-spicy chip. [Now they are suing](. 🎾 Ready for Wimbledon? Here's [what to know](. TOP STORIES [Smallest state in the country has the slowest mail delivery]( [Postal workers gather outside Providence's main post office after it was evacuated Saturday morning.]( Mail delivery in RI has been getting worse since the pandemic and the United States Postal Service has identified it as one of the worst in the country [READ MORE]( Advertisement [The Woonsocket police display marijuana, fentanyl, guns and equipment seized in 2023.]( [A closer look at fatal Rhode Island overdose epidemic]( Here's a look at some of the data the Rhode Island Department of Health released Wednesday on the fatal overdoses. [READ MORE]( ["Yarn Monster" was performed during the "Cabaret Jeté" at FringePVD in 2023.]( [What does FringePVD have in store this year? Expect the unexpected]( More than 50 performances by artists from 15 states are on the program this year, which includes a free family-friendly event. [READ MORE]( [A vehicle pulls up to the drive through take out menu at Mother Earth Wellness on May 2, 2024. According to Joe Pakuris, dispensary owner, this is only cannabis drive thru in New England.]( [Second lawsuit filed against RI's retail cannabis program. What we know.]( A second lawsuit from out of state, this time from a Florida man, could slow down RI's already delayed retail cannabis licenses. [READ MORE]( [Bobby Leopold hits off the 14th fairway on Thursday afternoon. Quarterfinal round of the RI Amateur on July 11, 2024.]( [4 players advance to semifinals of RI Amateur]( The semifinals tee off Friday at 7:30 a.m. at Warwick Country Club, with the winners advancing to Saturday's 36-hole championship. [READ MORE]( Advertisement Vote with Confidence This 7-day newsletter course will help you be an informed voter before Nov. 5. [SIGN UP NOW]( SUBSCRIBE TODAY Our Reporting. Your Stories. Full access to subscriber-only content on all devices. 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