Happy Monday!
Have you ever seen a neighbor's house on fire? What happens next is one of the things I love most about America.
People don't stand on their porch and ask whether the flames might eventually reach their own house. They grab a hose. They move cars. They help carry belongings. They comfort frightened kids. They do whatever they can to help.
Not because there's something in it for them. Not because they're calculating the odds that the fire might spread. They help because that's what neighbors do.
That's what community means.
And that's exactly why what's happening in Philadelphia matters to every short-term rental owner in Pennsylvania.
Right now, Philadelphia City Council is considering a proposal that would dramatically increase taxes on short-term rentals while largely leaving hotels untouched.
Let me say that another way.
The proposal would place a significantly heavier tax burden on regular homeowners and the families who choose to stay in their homes than on many large corporate hotel operators and their guests.
That's not fairness.
That's not good public policy.
And frankly, it feels downright un-American.
We don't believe government should pick winners and losers. We don't believe one group should be singled out simply because they're politically convenient targets. And we certainly don't believe middle-class property owners should be asked to shoulder a burden that others don't.
But this issue isn't just about hosts. It's about guests, too. Who ultimately pays these taxes? Not giant corporations. Families. The parents renting a house so grandparents, cousins, and kids can stay together under one roof. The husband and wife traveling for medical treatment. The family gathering for a wedding, graduation, holiday, or reunion. This proposal doesn't just target STR owners—it makes travel more expensive for everyday people.
Now, let's be honest. Most of us here in the Poconos won't pay this tax. At least not today.
But that doesn't mean this isn't our fight.
First, because the hosts in Philadelphia are our neighbors. They're fellow Pennsylvanians. They're fellow small business owners. They're fellow property owners trying to earn an honest living.
When our neighbors need help, we show up. That's what community means.
But there's another reason this matters.
Bad ideas have a way of spreading. A tax in Philadelphia today can become a proposal somewhere else tomorrow. An unfair fee in one community becomes a model for another. A precedent gets set. A playbook gets written.
And before you know it, the conversation isn't happening in Philadelphia anymore—it's happening in your township meeting, your county courthouse, or your state capitol.
We've already seen communities across Pennsylvania propose excessive fees, unreasonable restrictions, and regulations that go far beyond addressing legitimate concerns. There is no reason to believe Philadelphia will be the last place to target short-term rentals.
That's why advocacy matters. Not after the fact. Not once the fire reaches your own front porch. Before.
On June 4th, I'll be traveling to Philadelphia to join hosts, advocates, property owners, and industry partners from across the Commonwealth. I'll be participating in a rally and providing public testimony opposing this proposal because I believe standing up for our neighbors is the right thing to do.
I'd love for you to join me.
Because this is exactly what the Poconos VRO exists to do.
- To show up.
- To pay attention.
- To build relationships.
- To advocate before problems become crises.
- To ensure that when one part of Pennsylvania's STR community is under attack, they don't stand alone.
The truth is that advocacy only works when enough people participate.
Not just with their words. With their presence. With their memberships. With their donations. With their willingness to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their neighbors.
Today, Philadelphia needs us. And tomorrow, we may need them.
Let's show them what community looks like.
Have a great week,
Rebecca Gallagher
Executive Director
Poconos VRO
P.S. It's easy to assume someone else will handle advocacy. Someone else will show up. Someone else will write the check. Someone else will testify. But strong communities are built when everyone carries a little water. Whether it's joining the association, making a donation, or showing up in Philadelphia on June 4th, every contribution matters.
