This is an important dimension missing from other comments. AirBnB is just one inevitable manifestation of the underlying revolution in communication technology

This is an important dimension missing from other comments. AirBnB is just one inevitable manifestation of the underlying revolution in communication technology. That, plus shifting cultural factors has allowed "the market" to decide that some physical places have a fundamentally different core value prop than they once did. And for some residents that's a huge windfall. Let's remember that the AirBnB hosts, or the people who sold out to investment corporations, were all those small town locals at one point. They helped decided what was going to happen to the town. (Though we can acknowledge the game theory traps involved). I'm not saying it's right on wrong, but it's strange to "blame" AirBnB. The content of article amounts to "towns are finally deciding how they want to evolve in the face of changing culture and market forces". Good for them.