City fights theft -- and short-term rental -- 'gangs'

Apr. 1—There are gangs — and there are "gangs."

Unlike big cities terrorized by gangs like MS-13, the Hell's Angels, Crips and Bloods, Scottsdale has been plagued by two unofficial gangs: what law enforcement officials dubbed "The South American Theft Gang" and what locals call "The Short-Term Rentals Gang."

Significant progress was made on the former three weeks ago, when Scottsdale Police — with assistance from other agencies — nabbed three alleged Chilean "crime tourists" who police say were breaking into North Scottsdale homes.

Announcing the busts, Police Chief Jeff Walther mixed exuberance with caution, noting cities across the country are being hit by "crime tourists," who come to America by the thousands.

Similarly, some wonder if his department's efforts will make a dent on another unofficial collection of mostly nonviolent nuisance makers: "The Airbnb/VRBO Gang."

With college basketball's Final Four championship weekend coming to Glendale'sState Farm StadiumApril 6-8, Scottsdale is bracing for a rush of short-term renters similar to the 2023 Super Bowl.

While welcoming sports tourists who behave themselves, Mayor David Ortega and several City Council members for years have been railing against Scottsdale's unofficial Public Enemy No. 1 — "The STR Gang."

Recently, Assistant City Manager Brent Stockwell said enforcement progress is being made on the STR front.

Stockwell, who has the unenviable task of tackling the issue, told the Progress the city issued 85 short-term rental citations in January and February, "already surpassing the 58 issued in all of 2023."

Could have fooled me, says Dorothy Pratt, a lifelong Old Town resident.

Even compared to a rowdy 2023, this year "has been awful," she said.

"The animal house next door has been booked solid," Pratt said. "I have called the police twice last week for two different groups."

In one case, a limo arrived after midnight and dropped off "a bunch of drunk women hollering and yelling like all their hearing aids stopped working."

Police come when she calls, Pratt said — but only issue warnings.

It's a whack-a-mole scenario, she said: Police quiet down one group of renters after hours of noise making, only for a new group to come a few days later, starting the party process all over again.

Yet Pratt doesn't throw all short-term rental properties under the bus.

While a short-term rental house across her narrow street is relatively peaceful, "the house next to me is rented specifically for bachelor parties, bachelorette parties and party animals. That is the difference between the two rentals.

"The guy who owns the property next to me really needs to be fined big time for how he conducts his rental."

Changes coming?

Though restricted by state law in what it can do, the city started forcing short-term renters to apply for licenses starting last year.

Stockwell said 3,750 short-term rental licenses have been approved through February 2024.

On March 19, the city put out a press release and social media blasts titled "Scottsdale seeks public input on proposed short-term rental and nuisance party ordinances."

After receiving direction from Council, city employees "have been working on ordinance changes to address issues related to short term rentals, nuisance parties and unlawful gatherings," the release states.

A link to a survey was included, with the note, "The city seeks public opinion before the proposed changes go to the City Council for approval on May 6."

According to the city release, "In 2017, the Arizona Legislature reduced the City's ability to regulate short-term rental properties and only allows regulation related to health and public safety."

The city's proposed ordinance changes therefore must be narrow.

The three key changes Scottsdale is considering:

—Adding promoters as a responsible party for nuisance parties and unlawful gathering violations. Under the change, promoters who organize nuisance parties or unlawful gatherings can be held accountable along with the property owner or tenant and other responsible persons.

—Making it unlawful for non-residents to remain on a property after police declare a nuisance party or unlawful gathering. This would allow officers to disperse party attendees more effectively.

—Prohibiting minors from renting short term rentals.

Could that help?

"Absolutely a step in the right direction — if actually enforced," Matt Hodges said.

After being plagued by rowdy short-term renters for years, Hodges accepted the city's invitation and completed the survey.

Just reading the survey's instructions was a learning experience — and not a good one.

"I was really surprised to hear minors could rent a STR," Hodges said.

"So basically most of the STR business model is facilitating behaviors hotels won't allow — big, noisy, pot smoking, drunken and now underage drinking parties," Hodges fumed.

"Unbelievable."

Pratt also filled out the survey, hoping for even an incremental change.

"I think it is a start, but how on earth would they even know if a promoter was involved? Usually these rentals are for groups of young people who want to get together for vacations in Old Town, because it is advertised as 'the new party city,'" she said.

Pratt's modest proposal:

"What should be done, is that when a property is being repeatedly called on — the police should automatically call the owner and tell him or her that they are allowing guests to party at their rentals and tell them they will now be cited for breaking the law."

But, after living through one party group after another next door, Pratt thinks she is the only person who can make a change.

"I'm planning on moving," she said.

"I cannot take it anymore."

For more information, or to complete the city's survey, visit scottsdaleaz.gov/codes/vacation-short-term-rentals.

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