Shelter Island is a beautiful town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of Suffolk County, although it is separated from the rest of the county by water. The island can be reached only by ferry.
Strictly speaking, it would not be right to describe anyone who can afford to live on Shelter Island as a have-not. However, there are times when terms and descriptions are redefined. In short, there are very rich people. Then, there are rich people. Lastly, there are fairly rich people who always keep their eyes open for opportunities to improve their situations even further.
From all indications then, what is currently happening on Shelter Island can be described as being close to a class war. This has pitted poorer islanders who rent their homes to visitors against wealthier residents who say they are fighting to protect Shelter Island from the cocktail-swilling hordes of the Hamptons.
Petitions are flying. Also, the letters pages of the local newspaper have filled with correspondence. A group of residents have filed a lawsuit alleging that their rights as homeowners and Americans are being infringed.
The bone of contention is a law passed by the town board of Shelter Island. The law prohibits residents from renting their homes more than once each fortnight. For obvious reasons, supporters insist that without it the island would become a “ghetto” for weekending tourists. This allows all to freely rent their homes through Airbnb and would be akin to allowing “a for-profit garbage dump into your neighbourhood”, according to Kathleen DeRose who wrote in a letter to the Shelter Island Reporter. “You live with the stench while absentee owners collect profits.”
Opponents of the law have risen up to fight it. One of them stated that many of those who relied on rental income were women supporting their families.
Also, six women have filed a lawsuit against the town board, citing the Fourteenth Amendment and claiming that their constitutional rights to “equal protection of the laws” have been infringed.
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