CURRENT and completed WORK

COMPLETED INITIATIVES

• NON-PROFIT APPROVAL - We have been approved by the IRS a Section 501(c)(4) which is defined as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization operated exclusively to promote  community social welfare. We have opened a bank account locally and set  up a financial model to support our on-going sustainable growth  initiatives. Although donations are typically not tax-deductible, we do  need your support for our outreach activities. Since we are an all-volunteer organization, not one penny goes towards salaries and your time to help us is worth its weight in gold. We do NOT request nor accept donations from corporations and that includes Airbnb and VRBO.

• GOOD NEIGHBOR  PLEDGES - Our first drafts of the Good Neighbor Pledges are available! We have created an overall appeal letter (see below) for rental homeowners as well as versions for use by rental homeowners to share with their neighbors,  rental guests, hotels/inns & B&Bs, car rental agencies, airlines and ferries, visitor’s services. We also have worked with the real estate association (NAREB) to incorporate their feedback and hope to  contribute to a ‘bad actor’ renter list to facilitate self-policing.  See below for details on our Good Neighbor Pledges

• STR WORK GROUP MEMBER - We supported and participated in the STR working group as a positive force in bridging the STR gap, listening to all viewpoints, considering all data and facts (and acquiring those not currently available), and reaching a consensus to preserve the Nantucket way of life and improve the quality of life for all property owners, businesses and visitors.   A link to the town's STR web page provides a summary of our process  and work.  After submitting our recommendations, the Select Board and Finance Committee recommended changes before publishing in the Special Town Meeting Warrant as Articles 1-4.  All but Article 3 (adopt a state regulation to tax professionally managed STRs an additional 3% Community Impact Fee for Nantucket to use as remediation revenue for Infrastructure or STR-related impacts) failed to pass. 

ONGOING INTIATIVES

PLAN D - WAITING AND WATCHING FOR THE NEXT 3D CHESS MOVES - 

With the passage of Article 60 that banned STRs owned by corporations at ATM 2024 and Article 5, that strengthened the definition of corporations relative to partnerships and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) at STM 2024, perhaps voters are at a place where family-owned and operated STRs cease to be threatened by lawsuits.  Although the recent ZBA rulings in the Ward and Quick cases were in favor of those families, ACK-Now appealed on behalf of Cathy Ward  and a second trial recently wrapped up.  The Quick case was not appealed and therefore ruled moot.  We await his final ruling after ATM 2025 Article 66 got a majority but not the required 2/3 vote to update zoning to permit Nantucket Vacation Rentals as long as they comply with all current and future STR general bylaws. All of the more restrictive STR citizens articles were soundly defeated. There is a remote possibility of a fall 2025 Special Town Meeting where yet another shot could be taken at correcting our zoning so stay tuned.  In the meantime, we remain in limbo as the most recent court filings revealed that the 2015 ATM warrant contained a 'clean up' technical amendment to zoning which inadvertently removed the only remaining definition that included the words 'rent' and 'lease'.  If you cannot rent or lease your residential property for any length of time, that would certainly problematic.

EMERGENCY LODGING INITIATIVE -  Ferry and airplane cancelations are a common occurrence with which most of us are familiar but sometimes we have no back-up plan.  It doesn't happen often but sometimes visitors to the island for a day-trip are stranded, wedding attendees cannot return to the mainland as planned.  If it is off-season, traditional lodging is very limited and during the summer, just unavailable.

Weather and other emergencies may also strike year round residents whose pipes burst and/or have no heat during winter power outages, or flooding may have rendered their home temporarily unsafe.

Many of us who are blessed with a home on Nantucket, are prepared to open our home, a room or rooms in our home to help our neighbors and visitors, for free, for a cleaning fee or a reduced rate in situations like these.

We are still looking for more 'volunteer homes' for our Emergency Lodging Coordinator to access and are offering our website and Facebook Pages as a clearinghouse for volunteer and assistance requests.  The plan is to connect visitors/travelers with homeowners and a list of available homes.   We would love to add yours - please navigate to our Emergency Lodging page on this website.