We are writing as the owners of a non-owner occupied short term rental in Rockport.

Our first visit to Rockport was in 2016 as short term renters. We instantly fell in love with Rockport and became home owners within six months of that first visit.

We offer our home as a short term rental to help defray property taxes and maintenance costs until we retire in two years and move to Rockport full time.

The majority of our guests are families with children visiting the area for a variety of reasons. Our guests choose to stay in the privacy, comfort and security of a home with amenities more suitable to their preferences, such as a fully stocked kitchen, washer/dryer and private outdoor space.

We use a professional property management service whose top priority is the safety, well-being and enjoyment of not just our guests, but our surrounding neighbors as well. Our guests enter a contractual agreement with the property manager to follow all house rules.

We have made substantial financial investments to our property in Rockport, which, we believe, have actually increased the value of adjacent properties.

Welcoming visitors who use short term rentals in Rockport, is what makes the short term rental culture part of the unique fabric of the community. It does not “ruin the village vibe”. Some of our guests become homeowners in Rockport themselves, continuing to contribute to the community financially and culturally.

Why are these short term rental regulations targeted at only certain areas of Rockport?

Why is there not a single documented complaint available to substantiate the elected official’s insistence that short term rentals have become a nuisance and need regulations?

Please vote NO on this ridiculous ballot question!

Nancy and Billy Ottaviano live in Placentia, California