Neighbors for Good Government teamed with High Peaks Democratic Socialists of America to organize the debate between Stronger Saranac Lake Party candidate Jeremy Evans, Democrat Melinda Little and Republican/Independent Jimmy Williams.
To the editor: Wednesday’s public input session on short-term rentals 5 p.m. April 28, Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium is a good opportunity for residents to weigh in not only on the alarming growth of STRs locally but on the larger issue of affordable housing. As we’ve learned from Lake Placid, the growth of STRs is directly related to the decrease in affordable year-round housing, which in turn affects the availability of workers to staff our restaurants, lodging establishments, retail shops and other businesses that serve residents as well as tourists. A 2020 housing survey conducted in the village of Saranac Lake by High Peaks Democratic Socialists of America found that 44% of respondents cited the STR market among factors for why it was hard to find stable housing pre-COVID and 28% cited STRs among factors that made it harder to find housing during the pandemic.