Southampton may go after short-term rentals over coronavirus concerns

Southampton may crack down on illegal short-term rentals over concerns they are a risk for spreading coronavirus, according to the Easthampton Star. Town law requires minimum rental periods of two weeks, but the town said in an announcement that many properties are being rented for much shorter periods “at a time when the community is growing increasingly concerned about new people entering the community from the New York metropolitan area, the nation’s epicenter for the virus.” Supervisor Jay Schneiderman wants any fines collected to go to local food pantries that have seen increased demand. [Easthampton Star] – Dennis Lynch