In the last SC House session, a bill was proposed that would block local municipalities, like Hilton Head and Daufuskie, from imposing any restrictions or regulations on short-term rentals (H.3253). As a guest speaker in a community forum my opponent, Jeff Bradley, openly supported this bill. Since a modified version of this bill is likely to make it out of committee and up for a vote in the 2025 legislative session, you should know that based on his comments, Jeff Bradley will vote yes. I will vote no. So, what’s the ramifications to each of those opposing votes?
First, let’s talk about what support of this bill really means. By stating that he would be in favor of a bill removing the right of Hilton Head and Daufuskie to govern our own community when it comes to decisions regarding short-term rentals, Jeff Bradley is saying that he doesn’t trust the people of our area to make decisions that best serve our unique needs.
For the last seven months I’ve been speaking to people from every corner of District 123, and the one thing I would say they all have in common is that they want what’s best for this area. Why would Jeff Bradley believe that those of us living in this district shouldn’t be trusted with deciding how to manage the growth and facilitation of short-term rentals?
Next, let’s talk about what this bill really means. If Jeff Bradley has his way and this bill becomes law, communities in Hilton Head and Daufuskie would no longer be able to decide what is best for them in terms of short-term housing rentals. In other areas of the country, like Arizona and Texas, when restrictions have been removed they have seen an increase in housing costs, and a decrease in available housing. In our area, where we already have a shortage of workforce housing, as well as an affordable housing issue, this could be catastrophic.
This bill has not yet been voted on but is very much in the works and listening to the community is an essential part of representing it before casting a vote on their behalf. We must ensure that our community remains able to do what is right for us, but more importantly I think that Jeff Bradley’s support of this bill is part of a larger picture. Jeff Bradley doesn’t trust our community to make the decisions that are right for us. Jeff Bradley doesn’t trust women and doctors to make the right decisions for their health. Jeff Bradley doesn’t trust parents to choose what books their children should or should not read. I guess an easier way to say this is that Jeff Bradley’s stance on short-term rentals and his voting record reveals that he doesn’t trust us, and when a representative no longer trusts the people who elected him, it becomes time for us to ask ourselves if he deserves our trust.