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Submitted via IRC for Runaway1956
Amsterdam unveiled far-reaching plans on Wednesday to rein in tourism, reflecting the dissatisfaction of many residents who feel the city's historic center has been overrun.
The leading Green-Left and other parties negotiating a new municipal government after March elections vowed to return "Balance to the City", in a document of that name seen by Reuters.
"The positive sides of tourism such as employment and city revenues are being more and more overshadowed by the negative consequences" including trash and noise pollution, the document said.
Changes the document outlines include curtailing "amusement transportation" such as multi-person "beer bikes"; cracking down on alcohol use in boats on the canals; further restricting AirBnB and other home rentals; and a large tax hike.
The plans announced on Wednesday also include creating an inventory of all commercial beds in the city to try to cap various sectors such as those on cruise ships and in hotels.
"I'm very happy that the city is now finally taking action, because residents have been asking for it for a very long time," said Bert Nap of neighborhood organization d'Oude Binnenstad, in the historic center.
"What I'm worried about is that this package of measures is so drastic that there will be a lot of lawsuits and political resistance, which will cost a lot of time."
Source: http://www.oann.com/bye-bye-beer-bike-amsterdam-determined-to-tame-tourism/
(Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 19 2018, @09:36PM (3 children)
Obviously, passing a law getting rid of one revenue stream means extracting money from someone else instead. Literally, "residents have been asking for it for a very long time". :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 19 2018, @11:07PM (2 children)
At least some of that tax money goes to maintain the streets and other infrastructure. While some (in every city I know about) is going to graft and other "waste", a good bit does go toward things that are generally good for everyone in the city.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by khallow on Sunday May 20 2018, @12:56AM
It is rare for evil to be completely without good. Genghis Khan was great for public order. Adolf Hitler was an outspoken supporter of personal fitness and public health initiatives. Maintaining streets doesn't excuse the corrupt games city governments often play.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 21 2018, @06:59PM
oh good. i was hoping some kindly slave would come to the defense of the leaches in government. you just don't see enough of that these days.