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Balancing Tourism and the People Who Live Here
Over a thousand Galveston residents took the time to respond to the city’s STR survey. That tells you how much this issue matters — and how much has been left unresolved. 57% said noise is their top concern. Nearly 70% support a licensing board with real enforcement authority. In some parts of the island, roughly one in three housing units is a short-term rental. These aren’t abstract statistics. They’re the lived experience of families trying to stay in neighborhoods they’ve called home for years. Tourism matters to Galveston. So do the people who live here year-round. Getting that balance right is the job.“The ordinance is a start. Now we need consistent, fair enforcement focused on protecting the people who actually live in these neighborhoods.”
Where I Stand
Enforce the ordinance that was passed. The new STR ordinance is a good start. But an ordinance without enforcement is just words on paper. The city marshal’s office is now filing charges against unregistered operators — that’s real progress. As mayor, I’ll make sure that continues and that enforcement is consistent, not selective. A licensing board with actual authority. Nearly 70% of residents who responded to the city’s own survey want a licensing board that can act on complaints and revoke licenses when operators don’t follow the rules. That’s a reasonable ask. I’ll support building that structure. Noise and neighborhood quality are legitimate concerns. 57% of residents identified noise as their top STR concern. That’s not a fringe position — it’s the majority. Protecting the quality of life in residential neighborhoods means taking those complaints seriously and responding to them. Keep Galveston’s tourism economy strong. STRs are part of what makes Galveston accessible to visitors who can’t afford hotels. The answer isn’t to eliminate them — it’s to make sure they operate lawfully, pay their fees, and don’t destroy the neighborhoods around them.How We Get There
More than a thousand residents took time to tell the city what they need. Leadership’s job is to listen to that — and follow through. Consistent enforcement means the same rules apply to everyone, in every neighborhood, every time. It means a complaint gets a response. It means operators who don’t comply lose their license. As mayor, I’ll make sure the ordinance the city passed is the ordinance the city enforces — and that the people who live in these neighborhoods know someone is listening.
JOHN PAUL LISTOWSKI’S PRIORITY ISSUES
Learn MoreTourism and livability aren’t opposites — but it takes leadership to balance them. Explore more of John Paul’s priorities for Galveston.