Airbnb wins election fight in San Francisco

San Francisco housing. LA Observed file photo.

Short-term rental service Airbnb fought back a move by the city of San Francisco to regulate the practice, defeating Measure F in Tuesday's election by 55% to 45%. It was seen as a major showdown over the impact of Airbnb on the apartment rental market and on neighborhoods. The measure would have limited the number of days in a year (75) that a unit could be rented for the night and allowed more lawsuits. Airbnb and its supporters raised more than $8 million to fight the measure' proponents, who had less than a million dollars.

San Francisco voters also kicked out the sheriff and reelected mayor Ed Lee.