HomeMy WebLinkAboutArvin Santos_Mayor_and_City_Council_Public_CommentFrom:Arvin Santos
To:PublicComments
Subject:Short Term Rental
Date:Wednesday, June 17, 2026 4:37:38 PM
Caution - This email originated from outside the City - Verify that the Email display name and Email address are consistent. - Use caution when opening attachments.
Good evening Honorable Mayor and council members, My name is Arvin Santos, I stand before you not
just as a concerned resident, but as someone who grew up in this city and has witnessed its challenges
and potential firsthand. Today, I urge you to reconsider the proposed ban and instead adopt a
comprehensive regulatory framework that protects our neighborhoods while generating substantial
revenue for our city.
San Bernardino has an opportunity to generate over $300,000 annually through transient occupancy
taxes from regulated short-term rentals. At a time when our city faces budgetary constraints and
infrastructure needs, this is revenue we simply cannot afford to dismiss. This funding could support
essential services, improve our parks, enhance public safety, or address any number of community
priorities.
By choosing regulation over prohibition, we choose fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
According to data presented at the last council meeting, out of 108 short-term rentals operating in our city,
only 5 have been poorly managed. That represents less than 5% of all STRs.
This means that 95% of short-term rental operators are running responsible, well-managed properties
that contribute positively to our community. The proposed ban would punish these 103 compliant
operators for the actions of a small minority. This is not just unfair—it raises serious equal protection
concerns and sets a troubling precedent for how we address community issues.
I want to directly address the fire risk concerns raised in previous meetings. The facts are clear: there are
no reports of any fires started by short-term rental guests in San Bernardino.
As someone who grew up here, I’ve witnessed the devastating fires that have truly threatened our region:
1.) The Cranston Fire in 2018 burned over 13,000 acres
2.) The El Dorado Fire in 2020 burned 22,000 acres
3,) The Line Fire burned over 43,000 acres
None of these fires were caused by short-term rentals. We cannot allow unfounded assumptions and
hypothetical risks to drive policy decisions that will have real economic consequences for our residents.
We must base our decisions on evidence, not fear.
Concerns about excessive vehicles have also been raised. However, a simple drive through our
residential neighborhoods—particularly in Ward 4—reveals that this is not a short-term rental problem; it’s
a community-wide reality.
Many traditional family homes with two-car driveways regularly have five to seven vehicles parked on the
street. This is a reflection of multigenerational living, economic necessity, and changing family structures.
To single out short-term rentals as the sole cause of parking challenges is both inaccurate and
discriminatory.
If parking is a genuine concern, let’s address it comprehensively through citywide parking regulations that
apply equally to all residents.
I urge you to please amend the decision to ban. instead, please choor to regulate the STR community
instead. with the on going High cost of living, by enforcing this Ban, this will going to affect alot of lives in
the Area not just the STR operators but also the other workers that rely on these income. Thank you for
your time.