Should Foxes Guard the Henhouse?

Marco Island voters approved regulating short-term rentals (STR) of private homes within single-family residential (SFR) zones. This ordinance does NOT prohibit such rentals. It merely regulates the uncontrolled loud partying, drunkenness and peace disturbances happening every few days by constantly changing house renters in single-family neighborhoods. The voter-approved ordinance provides family neighborhoods relief by assigning responsibility and accountability to those who profit from the peace violations.

Unsurprisingly, Florida Realtors are suing the City of Marco Island for having sought and observed the legal will of its citizens. I believe the City should not, repeat NOT, be represented or defended in this particular legal action by four particular City individuals, namely:

City Attorney A. Gabriel – Criticized STR ordinance.

City Councilor J. Grifoni – Criticized STR ordinance.

City Councilor B. Irwin – Realtor Professional.

City Councilor D. Palumbo – Realtor Professional.

Unfortunately, according to legal definition, these four suffer a conflict of interest in this matter:

“A conflict of interest in law is a situation in which a person or organization has two or more competing interests that could affect their professional duty or representation of another person or organization. This can happen when a lawyer or law firm tries to act for the benefit of both parties in a legal matter that are adverse to each other, or when they have a personal or financial stake in the outcome of the matter that could compromise their loyalty or objectivity. A conflict of interest is a breach of the trust and confidence that the public, or a designated individual, places in someone to act in their best interests.”*

* Sources cited Cornell Law, Legal Dictionary, The Free Dictionary and The Blackwell Firm