Opinion: Gainesville should explain why it wants to meddle in extended-stay hotel business

Visitors to the Gainesville Planning Board meeting raise their hand to speak on the proposed restrictions, including limits on stays, for hotels. Proposed regulations in Gainesville would limit how long people can stay at hotels in the city and require hotels to keep detailed records of their guests and hand those over to the city upon request. - photo by Scott Rogers

11132019 HOTEL 3.jpg — Visitors to the Gainesville Planning Board meeting raise their hand to speak on the proposed restrictions, including limits on stays, for hotels. Proposed regulations in Gainesville would limit how long people can stay at hotels in the city and require hotels to keep detailed records of their guests and hand those over to the city upon request. - photo by Scott Rogers

The city of Gainesville has done a poor job of explaining why it feels the necessity to further interject the city into the operation of its hotel businesses. As a result it has opened itself to public criticism for a proposal that would increase the amount of government oversight into local businesses offering rooms to rent.

Editorial

Editorial