The Rev. Dr. David Adamovich

We’re proud to share our Hempstead home

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When I turned 50, I retired from 18 years of teaching electrocardiography, biostatistics and exercise physiology and started throwing knives. Some would call that a quintessential midlife crisis. But for me, it was an opportunity to try something new and follow my passions, just as I had years before, when I went from managing a billiard hall in Bay Shore to becoming an ordained minister and finishing my doctorate.
I’m proud to say that I’ve made some waves with my new profession, from competing on “America’s Got Talent” and setting a Guinness world record for most knives thrown around a human target in one minute (102, for those counting at home), to receiving the coveted Merlin Award from the International Magicians Society.
While I enjoy the chance to perform on television, in movies and on stage in venues around the world, the truth is that professional knife throwers aren’t known for having the most stable income stream.
That’s why, in 2015, my partner, Lynn, and I began hosting on Airbnb in an effort to smooth our income and offset the high property taxes that Long Islanders know so well. Over the past two-plus years, we’ve welcomed travelers to our home in Freeport, just 30 minutes from Kennedy Airport, 20 minutes from Jones Beach and within walking distance of the incredible local restaurants along the Nautical Mile.
Today we’re proud to be Airbnb “Superhosts” with five-star reviews across the board. One of our guests wrote, “Very hard not to want to hang out with David all day.” What can I say? We’re excited and honored to act as ambassadors for the Village of Freeport, the Town of Hempstead and the state of New York.

Unfortunately, the Town Board recently voted to enact a ban on short-term rentals in Hempstead. This blunt prohibition will hurt hundreds of families like mine on Long Island who rely on short-term rentals to make ends meet and remain in the communities we love.
This ban isn’t rooted in data or logic. Town Supervisor Anthony Santino hasn’t cited any information about the impact of short-term rentals on the housing stock (which by any estimation is exceedingly small — about 270 of Hempstead’s 250,000 housing units are listed on Airbnb, about 0.1 percent of the total, and many are primary residences like ours), the effect of short-term rentals on parking, or whether these rentals are any more likely to lead to quality-of-life problems than other types of lodging in our communities.
Instead, Town Council members cherry-picked a handful of “horror” stories from around the world, ignoring the fact that the vast majority of the 160 million-plus guests who have stayed in Airbnb-listed accommodations have nothing but great things to say about their experiences.
The truth is that Airbnb has pioneered a number of innovative tools that are designed to foster trust and safety and ensure that everyone can benefit from home sharing — hosts, guests, neighbors and businesses alike. As hosts, we rely on these tools — a Verified ID system, background checks, $1 million of insurance coverage, 24/7 customer support — to confidently open our doors to travelers from every corner of the globe.
As hosts, we understand the need for reasonable regulation that ensures public safety for the residents of Hempstead. Cities from coast to coast — including right down the road in Huntington — have developed tailored rules for short-term rentals that meet the needs of their communities and promote responsible home sharing that boosts the local economy.
Instead of a knee-jerk, anti-business ban, Hempstead should follow the lead of these municipalities and develop nuanced rules grounded in facts, not fear. I firmly believe it’s in the best interests of municipalities to help their residents by allowing the additional income that Airbnb provides. In my case, it helps us deal with exorbitant (and steadily rising) taxes as we try to stay afloat in one of the highest-taxed counties in the U.S.
 
David Adamovich, who is also known as the Great Throwdini, and his partner, Lynn, have hosted an estimated 100 Airbnb visitors to Freeport.