Airbnb Seeks to Curry Favor With Cuomo Ahead of N.Y. Legislation

In less than two weeks, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo must decide whether to sign a bill that would impose hefty fines on some Airbnb hosts in the state, dealing a potentially crippling blow to the home-sharing company in its largest U.S. market. So in an attempt to persuade Cuomo to block the legislation, Airbnb on Wednesday announced a list of conciliatory measures.

The bill Cuomo is considering would punish people who use Airbnb Inc. to advertise lodging in violation of existing state laws concerning illegal hotels. Those who do would face a $1,000 fine, escalating to $5,000 for a second offense and as much as $7,500 for subsequent violations. In New York City, it’s illegal to rent a space in an apartment building for less than 30 days, a rule Airbnb has acknowledged is ignored by thousands of members.