To the editor:

Our family loves visiting the Keweenaw Peninsula.  Most of the Keweenaw is hospitable and friendly to tourists.  The Village of Eagle Harbor is doing the opposite with their proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance.

Do they realize how important we visitors are to the local economy?  Maybe it doesn’t matter to the wealthy retirees in the Village of Eagle Harbor, but it matters to the remainder of the Keweenaw.  Tourists provide much needed revenues to the Keweenaw.  In fact, we are the major driver of a sustainable economy.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to find open weeks during the summer, and now it’s even a challenge during the winter.  

Short term rentals play a vital role in providing lodging.  When we travel, those are the kind of places we choose – STR owners care about their guests.  

We need more lodging choices in the Keweenaw, not fewer.  Don’t restrict short term rentals; it will hurt the local economy.  

I’ve heard that Eagle Harbor’s proposed short term rental ordinance grandfathers in current short term rental owners, most of whom are in the Village of Eagle Harbor.  Honestly, a lot of them are old and dated.  But there are nice places in the township outside of the Village.  Maybe that’s why they’re passing this ordinance – to prevent competition and to benefit themselves?