From time-to-time, I watch a YouTube Channel called “This is Pagosa – Government” to consider what a local Real Estate agent advocates (a personal choice) to the public on the subject of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in Pagosa Springs.
I find the Comments posted to each YouTube video helpful to understanding local public sentiment.
One Citizen Can Really Do This? Worst Ordinance Ever?
“Listen to the Capitalist support his claim”
Archuleta County Stands to Lose Millions… Will STR Proposals Damage our Local Economy?
“Are you kidding me, this is not a Police Problem; this is a Management Problem”
The Truth About STR’s… $100 Million?
“How about Lobbying for a maximum number of STRs in each Neighborhood”
“A high number of STRs is eroding the sense of Neighborhood Community”
“Confirmation Bias Much”
“Your Unabashed Acceptance of all the study’s results (and no criticism) makes it very obvious”
After watching the YouTube Video — “The Truth About STRs” — ten days ago, I then read a December 15 editorial in the Pagosa Daily Post titled “Are STRs Bad for Pagosa?”
We have two Pagosa Springs Advocates representing very different interpretations of the Root Policy Research study that was presented at the Pagosa Springs Town Council meeting: the ‘Short Term Rental Fee Study’.
If a YouTube Blogger unilaterally takes the time, cost, and effort to distribute information (his Interpretation of truth found within data), and it comes to light that serious misunderstanding(s) in factual data contained within the Root Policy Research study may exist, then it is incumbent upon Mr. Martin — necessary as a duty, as a sincere effort to not share misinformation with the public — to fully explain whether his math calculations need to be revised.
Root Policy Research Data
1,250 STRs (in Archuleta County):
– Generates $9.27 million in Annual Spending (in Archuleta County)
– Generates about ~ 175 Jobs (in Archuleta County)
– Generates about ~ 124 Jobs (in Town limits)
– Generates about ~ 51 Jobs (outside Town limits)
The Truth About STR’s
Claim on 1,250 STRs (in Archuleta County):
– Generates $103 million in Annual Spending (“To Our Local Economy”)
– Generates about 1,760 Jobs (“For Our Locals”)
The Truth About STR’s
Comments by Matt Martin on his $100 Million Claim:
– “I was ecstatic when the number came out to $82k per STR…”
– “Since April 2020 till now, we gained only 351 active rentals in that same time period…”
– “As a whole, Archuleta County has 2,064 renter occupied units…”
– “Very few single family residential homes are rentals in Pagosa Springs…”
– “STR industry IN-TOWN is contributing 37% to that retail job…”
Hank Lydick
Pagosa Springs, CO