Despite "Rental Fatigue," Please Support Article 1

To the editor: I am writing in support of Article 1 for next week’s special town meeting. I think these thoughts are worth sharing. I should note that I have never rented my house and do not plan on renting it, but my children do, some family members do, and many friends do, and they all rely on short-term rentals (STRs) and year-round rentals. My opinion is that the majority of rentals on Nantucket are NOT STRs, they are year-round and necessary. We cannot just say "too bad, so sad."

I understand that a lot of us have "rental fatigue" and those of us who have lived here for over four decades (or more) quite frequently have "island fatigue,” but we cannot fall victim to the "I don't care enough" trap and we cannot simply say "I got mine, so forget the rest of you."

The rental question speaks directly to the heart of Nantucket's future. If there is to be a future for our children and grandchildren who choose to stay, I believe it is up to us to ensure that in whatever way we can.

I have observed that the rental question also brings a spotlight on manners, common decency, and rapidly declining adult behavior in our society. People can be rude, uncaring, and nasty, and it seems to me that what brought the rental question to the forefront was exactly that type of behavior. Remember, MOST people are good, MOST people are not jerks, MOST people are good vacationers. Do not let a few bad apples spoil it for the future of this island.

Instead, create the regulations around rentals that prevent bad behavior, dispense fees, or fines, heck, ejection from the island (remember when that was a thing?)! Please attend next week's Special Town Meeting, and please consider a "Yes" vote for Article 1, which will reinstate all rentals as a use in our zoning code. It is not a "free for all," it allows use. More regulations can then be put into place, by we the voters, to manage them (and sunshine, rainbows and unicorns will follow. I'm sure of it).

Kate Ranney Sayle