Dumping industrial waste into the Hudson, prostitution, and the drug trade are also boosts to the local economy. Think of all the jobs! However, they are are

Dumping industrial waste into the Hudson, prostitution, and the drug trade are also boosts to the local economy. Think of all the jobs! However, they are are illegal in NYC, just like Airbnb, though the externalities are much worse in those cases. The point is that most laws restrict a bit of economic freedom for other societal benefits. Think of how much cheaper housing would be if only we ditched those pesky building codes!