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Coalition of business, faith, and community leaders urges NYC to adopt “Summer of Opportunity” short-term rental exception for 2026 mega-events

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NEW YORK, NY –  March 5, 2026 – Today, a diverse coalition of New York City’s leading business, faith, and community organizations, including the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, delivered a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and all members of the New York City Council,  urging the adoption of a temporary "Summer of Opportunity" exception to current short-term rental regulations.

The narrowly tailored proposal aims to address a critical accommodation capacity gap as New York City prepares to host the largest convergence of global events in its modern history. Between mid-June and late July 2026, the city will simultaneously host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sail4th 250, and Fleet Week.

The coalition argues that without a temporary expansion of available beds, hotel prices will surge out of reach for working families, and crucial economic spending will leak to New Jersey and surrounding suburbs.

"This is not a proposal to revisit or permanently alter the City's regulatory framework," said Jessica Walker, President and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. "This is about arithmetic. We are facing an unprecedented six-week window with a combined projected economic impact of over $4 billion. We must ensure our local communities can capture the economic benefits of this once-in-a-generation moment."

To ensure neighborhood stability and safety, the coalition’s proposal includes strict guardrails:

  • The exception would only apply from June 1 to July 31, 2026, with an automatic sunset on August 1.

  • Participation would be restricted exclusively to owner-occupied one- and two-family homes, strictly prohibiting multi-unit apartments, corporate properties, and rent-regulated units.

  • Hosts would be required to obtain a mandatory temporary "Summer of Opportunity" permit from the Office of Special Enforcement.

  • The city would implement neighborhood caps to prevent oversaturation in any specific community district.

  • Platforms would be required to collect all City and State occupancy taxes, sales taxes, and fees at the point of sale.

  • Unregistered properties operating during the window would face full penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

The letter was signed by a wide range of civic, religious, and business leaders, including representatives from the New York Urban League, Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn, the NYC Crisis Management System, MPAC (Mobilizing Preachers and Communities), and all five Chambers of Commerce across the boroughs.

With the World Cup final just five months away, the coalition stresses that the window to act is rapidly closing and urges the City to move with the urgency this moment demands.

This issue is included in the Main Street Deal, our policy agenda to save Manhattan's storefront businesses being led by our Storefront Business Coalition.

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