• Vacation rentals meeting Vacation rentals meeting Most of the attendees, as well as several of the “stakeholders” at the recent vacation rental meetings, have a vested financial interest in the vacation rental business. In the interest of full disclosure,
• Vacation rentals meeting
Vacation rentals meeting
Most of the attendees, as well as several of the “stakeholders” at the recent vacation rental meetings, have a vested financial interest in the vacation rental business.
In the interest of full disclosure, I asked the meeting facilitator and several of the “stakeholders” whether we could have a show of hands to see how many were real estate people or others who own, manage or invest in vacation rentals.
The facilitator said flatly, “I can’t ask that question.” One “stakeholder” said, “That question would be too controversial.” Another said, “The attendees are not making any decisions; we are (indicating the “stakeholders”).
The County paid several thousand dollars to have these meetings. Someone (not sure who) decided who the decision-making “stakeholders” would be. Other people (“attendees”) were allowed to attend and to speak for three minutes each.
Wouldn’t it be important to know how many participants have been profiting from the subject under discussion, especially since everyone on the island could be affected by the “decisions” made?
If we were going to a meeting concerning, say, the nation’s energy policy, wouldn’t it be helpful to know whether most of the participants and the “decision makers” were from big oil companies?
Do we want important taxpayer-financed decisions about a certain industry to be made without full disclosure of the amount of influence exercised by those in that very industry?
