Airbnb Takes Down Bayside 'Squatter' Listing After Shooting

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Airbnb indefinitely suspended a Bayside listing under pressure from neighbors and politicians who argued that people illegally renting the home were to blame for a recent shooting.

After gunfire erupted near 208 Street on March 19, hurting one teenager, neighbors quickly placed the blame on a group of so-called squatters living at 208-16 38th Avenue. They pointed to a history of purposed parties, noise, litter, and harassment at the house — all of which locals said they've repeatedly reported.

"This problematic property has plagued our neighbors, first as a zombie home, then as an alleged squatter’s den, and now as an illegal Airbnb with a shooting spilling over into the streets," Joseph Marziliano, district manager of Community Board 11, said at a protest Friday.

Joseph Carollo, who bought the home in 2004, also showed up to the protest, telling ABC7 that he sold the house to the bank four years ago and that it's been in foreclosure ever since.

"I have nothing to do with these people here. Nor do I want them here, but I don't have a choice at this point," Carollo told the outlet.

The two men were joined Friday by some neighbors, as well as local representatives, who demanded that the city kick the people out of the home and that Airbnb suspend the property's listings. (Building owners need to be present, and register with the city, in order to lawfully host short-term rentals on Airbnb, according to recently-passed legislature.)

New York State Senator John Liu, Assembly Member Edward Braunstein, and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng — all of whom represent Bayside — reiterated these points in letters to the Department of Buildings and Airbnb.

Airbnb quickly responded to the demands, according to Meng, who said Saturday that the homestay website told her office it cancelled all bookings and the house and suspended the listing indefinitely.

Braunstein thanked Airbnb for its response, adding that he will continue to monitor the listing going forward to ensure that it isn't used again under another account — a pattern that he said has happened in the past.

As for the buildings department, Andrew Rudansky, the agency's press secretary, said that the DOB doesn't issue vacate orders solely on the basis of illegal activity or landlord-tenant disputes — the latter of which he said should be settled in Housing Court.

The agency issues vacate orders when the building poses an immediate life safety hazard to the people inside it or the neighborhood — all of which needs to be ascertained through an inspection.

DOB inspectors are planning to check out the building in the coming days to investigate two recent complaints alleging that plumbing and electrical work at the building was done without permits, which are necessary for such adjustments.

Inspectors have checked out the building in response to previous safety complaints, but in each instance they didn't find issues at the time of inspection, or were denied entry, records show.