Jonathan Miles, a business owner on Nantucket since 1990, has seen firsthand the importance of short-term rentals in maintaining a good quality of life on the island. Over the years, he has gained insight into how our local economy functions and the unique steps needed to sustain it.
As his business grew, Miles realized the importance of providing housing for his employees to ensure a reliable workforce that could return year after year. However, with many employees only spending four months on the island, finding year-round housing proved impractical. Short-term rentals became essential in meeting their housing needs during the eight months when they were not using it themselves.
Despite not resulting in significant financial gains, utilizing short-term rentals during the off-season has been crucial in sustaining operations and preserving local employment. Banning short-term rentals would leave many properties vacant for most of the year, putting both businesses and the Nantucket economy at risk.
Tourism is a critical part of Nantucket’s economy, and eliminating short-term rentals would have negative consequences on local businesses and spending. Preserving this option is essential for maintaining collective prosperity on the island. The repercussions of not taking action on this issue are too significant to ignore.
Miles urges us to recognize
