Mayor Bill de Blasio’s former campaign manager has signed on as a consultant with Airbnb as the apartment-sharing website weathers challenges to its business model in New York City.
Bill Hyers, now a consultant with Hilltop Public Solutions, has been working for the San Francisco-based Airbnb for at least a few months, according to the New York Daily News.
“Bill has been a part of the Airbnb team for several months and we’re all working to ensure New Yorkers learn about Airbnb and how we make all five boroughs better places to live, work and visit,” Airbnb spokesperson Nick Papas told the newspaper in an email.
Earlier this year, the state Attorney General’s office opened an investigation into alleged illegal short-term rentals advertised on Airbnb’s website. Questions have also arisen over how much New Yorkers need to pay in taxes when renting out their pads through the site. [NYDN] – Tom DiChristopher