[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> AMERICAN ROOTS FACTORY -- ONE DATE THE VIRUS CUT UP TO THEM.

>> WE KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

IT FELT INEVITABLE.

>> SOMETHING CAME INTO THE COMPANY.

WE SAID WE ARE NOT SCARED.

>> AS MORE PEOPLE IN NEWPORT TURN THEIR HOMES INTO AIRBNB RENTALS, RESIDENTS BEGIN TO REALIZE THEY COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

>> IF IT IS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE , WHERE OUR WAITERS GOING TO LIVE?

WHERE ARE MAKE OUR SALES GOING TO -- WHERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR SALES GOING TO LIVE?

♪ >> WELCOME TO THIS VIRTUAL ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

WE BEGIN WITH HEARTBREAKING NEWS ABOUT OUR BELOVED COLLEGUE AND FRIEND BILL RAPPLEYE.

HE DIED LAST THURSDAY AT THE AGE OF 66 AFTER BATTLING CANCER.% HE WAS A KIND MAN, A LOVING FATHER, AND A TENACIOUS REPORTER COMMITTING TO ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.

WE SENT OUR SYMPATHIES TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HE TOUCHED.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ABOUT HIS LEGACY ON A BROADCAST AIRIN THIS WEDNESDAY AT 7:00.

OUR FIRST STORY IS FROM THE STATE OF MAINE.

AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, GETTING YOUR HAND ON A MASK WITH A CHALLENGE.

ONE COMPANY RESPONDED.

REPORTER KIRA KAY VISITED WITH THE STAFF OF "AMERICAN ROOTS."

KIRA: WESTBROOK MAINE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PORTLAND WAS ONCE A MANUFACTURING HUB OF PAPER, LEATHER, AND TEXTILES.

THE INDUSTRY FADED AND MOST OF ITS FACTORIES FELL SILENT DECADES AGO.

TODAY, THE WHIR OF MACHINES IS ONCE AGAIN FILLING THE MILL WITH EMPLOYEES OF "AMERICAN ROOTS CLOTHING" ON A MISSION TO RUSH MASKS AND PPE TO AMERICANS AIRING THIS CRISIS -- DURING THIS CRISIS.

THE OWNERS REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPENED.

>> MARCH 13 I AM IN CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT FLYING HOME.

THE COUNTRY IS SHUTTING DOWN, SPORTS ARE CANCELED, SOME PEOPLE HAVE MASKS, MOST DON'T.

AS A COUNTRY BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN, WE WATCHED 70% TO 70% -- TO 75% OF OUR REVENUE GO AWAY.

OUR WORKERS HAVE ESCAPED WAR-TORN COUNTRIES, PANDEMICS, POVERTY, YOU NAME IT.

NOW IT WAS COMING TO AMERICA.

KIRA: SINCE 2015, "AMERICAN ROOTS" HAD BEEN MAKING CUSTOM IT WAS FOUNDED TO CREATE AMERICAN CLOTHING TO AMERICAN AID FABRIC.

FOR LABOR IT RELIES ON THE NEWEST AMERICANS, IMMIGRANTS FROM EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

THOSE WORKERS' LIVELIHOOD WAS ON THE LINE.

THE OWNERS CALLED A MEETING EXPECTING HAVING TO LAY MOST WORKERS OFF.

>> WHEN I ASKED WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME BACK TO WORK IF WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PRODUCE PPE?

EVERY SINGLE HAND WENT UP.

ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO IS % PROUD NEW U.S. CITIZEN FROM IRAQ STOOD UP AND SAID THIS IS OUR DUTY AS AMERICANS.

>> WE USED THE FABRIC WEEK NORMAL USE FOR OUR T-SHIRTS.

FABRIC WAS EASY TO OBTAIN.

WITHIN THREE WEEKS WE HAVE PRODUCED 20,000 MASKS.

>> 20,000 MASKS AND 30,000 FACE SHIELDS.

KIRA: MARIA IS THE HEAD STITCH OR.

>> -- IS THE HEAD STITCHER.

>> I HAD THE IDEA THAT I COULD MAKE A MASK YET I FEEL SO BAD BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING.

WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE >> THEY COULD HAVE STAYED HOME.

THEY COULD HAVE COLLECTED UNEMPLOYMENT, THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN NOTHER $600 CHECK.

THEY DID NOT.

>> -- KIRA: ORDERS FLOODED IN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AS WELL AS NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY PUT STRICT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE INCLUDING HANDWASHING STATIONS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCING.

>> WE HAD A CREW COME IN AND HANG THIS PLASTIC SHEETING.

WHAT THIS ALLOWS IS FOR US TO USE THIS SPACE AND STILL HAVE UP TO 60 PEOPLE WITHIN THIS FACTORY WORKING BECAUSE IT PROVIDES PODS FOR FIVE TO SIX PEOPLE TO WORK WITHIN.

WE ALSO HAVE BRICK TIMES SPLIT UP SO ONE POT MAY TAKE A BREAK AT ONE TIME, THE NEXT POD WILL WORK -- TAKE THEIR BREAK THE NEXT TIME.

KIRA: THE ROOTS OF "AMERICAN ROOTS" IS AMERICAN.

-- MOTHER WAS A WORKER.

>> MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING A LOT.

WE HAD A NEW BABY AND A 10-YEAR-OLD AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO A.

WE BOUGHT A BUSINESS THAT WAS -- WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO A BUSINESS.

WE BOUGHT A BUSINESS THAT WAS CLOSING.

I HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN SEWING.

KIRA: BEN HAD BEEN AN ADVISOR IN D.C.

BUT MOVED BACK TO MAINE.

>> I GREW UP IN TEXTILES AND IF YOU ASKED ME IF I WOULD GO INTO TEXTILES, I WOULD SAY YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND.

BUSINESSES HAVE THOSE EPIPHANY MOMENTS AND MINE WAS SITTING IN A PLOT TRUCK.

I WAS WEARING A FLEECE VEST, IT WAS EMBROIDERED, IT SAID MADE WITH USA FABRICS ASSEMBLED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT WAS IT.

ONLY ABOUT 2% OF U.S.

CLOTHING IN THE U.S. IS MADE IN THE USA >> WE RAN INTO THIS ISSUE OF WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND STITCHERS.

THIS ISSUE -- THIS INDUSTRY HAD DIED IN THE USA.

MAINE HAD A HISTORY OF STITCHING BUT IT WAS GONE AT THIS POINT.

KIRA: BEN'S MOM AND HER NONPROFIT TRAINING PROGRAM CRATED A PIPELINE OF WORKERS.

THE SCHOOL RUNS ON THE SAME FLOOR OF THE RENOVATED FACTORY SPACE.

40 STUDENTS WERE GRADUATING A YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HITS ALL FROM THE LOCAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

2019.

>> THESE WOMEN WERE CHOSEN OUT OF 48 DIFFERENT APPLICANTS FOR THIS PROGRAM.

SOME OF THEM KNEW HOW TO SEW AND SOME DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SEWING.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE STUDENTS GOING TO WORK IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

AMERICAN ROOTS AND SEVERAL OTHER MANY FACTORS WILL BE HIRING OUR STUDENTS.

ONE OF OUR STUDENTS BOUGHT HER FIRST HOUSE.

THEY ARE BEING PAID LIVING WAGES.

TWO HAVE HAD CHILDREN GRADUATE BECAUSE THIS YEAR, BUYING CARS, AND BECOMING CITIZENS.

WE HAVE DONE -- BEEN TO THREE CITIZENSHIP TESTIMONIES.

KIRA: MAINE MAY NOT BE THE MOST OBVIOUS LOCATION FOR IMMIGRANTS, BUT IT HAS MANY AFRICAN IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.

>> WE DON'T MAKE A CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO REFUGEES.

WHO SAID TO THE REFUGEES WHERE?

THE STATE DEPARTMENT CHOSE MAINE AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS STARTED JOINING.

WE SETTLED HERE AND THEN LATER ON WE HAD SOME CONGOLESE.

THEN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY KEPT COMING FOLLOWING THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS.

KIRA: HE SAYS THEY ARE DRIVING THE LOCAL ECONOMY NOW.

>> I THINK MAINE NEEDS US BECAUSE MAINE NEEDS MIGRANTS.

IF YOU SEE TYSON OR L.L.

BEAN, ALL OF THESE CORPORATIONS, THIS IS AN AGING STATE AND THEY'RE GETTING MIGRANTS WHO ARE VERY YOUNG WHO WILL TAKE OVER THE WORKFORCE.

KIRA: ORIGINALLY FROM ANGOLA, MARIA WAS AN EARLY GRADUATE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND HELPED BUILD PETER NERONHA --"AMERICAN ROOTS."

>> WHEN I MET THEM, THEY WERE TEACHING ME.

IN THE TRAINING I MET MY KIN, THEY WERE ARABIC PEOPLE, AND WE STARTED SHARING IDEAS.

KIRA: ONE OF THE YOUNGEST EMPLOYEES IS A COLLEGE STUDENT.

>> BOTH MY MOM AND DAD WORK HERE AND IF THEY NEED ANYTHING THEY COME TO BEN AND HE TAKES CARE OF THEM.

IT IS ALSO LIKE A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP SO THEY FEEL SAFE HERE.

EVEN MY LITTLE SISTER WORKS ARE NOW.

KIRA: WHITNEY WAXMAN ADMITS THERE WAS A LEG WHICH BEAR.

>> MANY ARE USED TO THE METRIC SYSTEM AND NOT THE AMERICAN SYSTEM.

IT PRESENTED A BUNCH OF NEW ISSUES WE DID NOT EXPECT.

IT HAS COME TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR US.

KIRA: PASSWORD TO MID 2020, "AMERICAN ROOTS" WAS MAKING 7000 MASKS A DAY.

ONE DAY IN JULY, THE VIRUS CAUGHT UP.

>> WE KNEW IT WOULD HIT AT SOME POINT.

>> THE PHONE RANG TO WHITNEY AND SHE CAME IN AND GRABBED ME AND SAID WE HAVE A POSITIVE CASE.

ON SATURDAY, JULY 11, WE HAD OUR SECOND POSITIVE CASE.

ON JULY 12 WE HAD OUR THIRD.

>> WE HAD 11 POSITIVE CASES THAT IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO QUARANTINE.

WE HAD 10 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO WENT INTO QUARANTINE DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE POSITIVE CASES.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN SHARED TRANSPORTATION, SHARED HOUSEHOLDS.

>> IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING CAME INTO THE COMPANY.

WE ARE NOT SCARED.

KIRA: "AMERICAN ROOTS'S" WORKERS ARE NOT ALONE.

BLACKS ARE ONLY 1.4% OF MAINE POPULATION BUT THEY HAVE MADE UP 22% OF THE INFECTED POPULATION.

KIRA: WHAT'S TO THINK ABOUT THIS DISPARITY?

>> THESE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY A HORRIBLE DISEASE BECAUSE OF RESOURCES AND ECONOMICS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A COUNTRY AND A COMMUNITY THE EMPLOYEES WE HAD PRE-COVID WERE COMING OUT OF POVERTY.

THE LAST 75 PEOPLE WHO HAVE WALKED THROUGH OUR DOOR, A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE IN POVERTY.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

150 IN HERE.

KIRA: CLAUDE -- CITY MANAGER CLAUDE HAS TURNED "AMERICAN ROOTS TO", DISTRIBUTING CLOSE IN CHILD SERVICES AND HIS OWN CHURCH.

AS COVID-19 CASES HAVE SURGED THIS FALL, "AMERICAN ROOTS" CONTINUES TO TEST ITS EMPLOYEES WEEKLY.

IN DECEMBER, ANOTHER SCARE, 11 MORE POSITIVE CASES WITH THREE DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS.

THE COMPANY CONTINUES ON HIS MISSION TO DELIVER LIFESAVING PPE WHILE HOPING FOR BETTER DAYS AHEAD.

>> MARIA WHO IS OUR HEAD STITCHER CAME INTO MY OFFICE THREE YEARS AGO AND SAID I HAD A DREAM.

WE WILL BE BIGGER THAN L.L.

BEAN.

WE JOKE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE LOVE L.L.

BEAN.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP GOING.

COVID HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.

WE HOPE IN THE NEAR FUTURE THERE IS A VACCINE AND THE SENSE -- AND THIS ENDS AND WE CAN PRODUCE ALL THE PRODUCTS WE SOLD BEFORE.

I WOULD BE NAIVE TO SAY WE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO PRODUCE PPE BECAUSE I THINK THE WORLD HAS CHANGED FOR A LONG TIME.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO KIRA FOR THAT REPORT.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

VACCINE TRACKER, MAINE IS DOING PRETTY WELL OF DELIVERING COVID VACCINE.

IT IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES TO REACH 2% OF ITS CITIZENS IN THIS FIRST MONTH OF THE CAMPAIGN.

MAINE HAS USED MORE THAN 60% OF ITS AVAILABLE STOCK OF VACCINES.

RHODE ISLAND IS USING LESS THAN 40% AND MASSACHUSETTS IS USING JUST 30%.

UP NEXT, WE HAD TO NEWPORT WHERE LIKE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, SHORT TERM RENTAL PLATFORMS LIKE AIRBNB HAVE EMERGED FOR WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO LODGE WHILE TRAVELING AND FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO CREATE A REVENUE STREAM.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THESE CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CONNECTIONS TO EXPERIENCE A LOCATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LOCAL.

IN MANY CASES, TO SAVE MONEY ON A HOTEL ROOM.

FOUNDED IN 2008 BY THREE FRIENDS WHO RENTED AIR MATTRESSES TO TRAVELERS IN THEIR APARTMENT, AIRBNB HAS GROWN INTO A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE.

LAST MONTH, AIRBNB WENT PUBLIC AND PROVED TO BE THE LATEST TECH STOCK TO SHOW MAJOR GAINS IN THE FIRST DAY OF TRADING.

ENDING WITH A MARKET VALUATION OF MORE THAN $86 BILLION.

TO HELP UNDERSTAND THOSE NUMBERS, TAKE AIRBNB'S LEADING COMPETITOR EXPEDIA WHICH HAS A FILE YOU RATION OF JUST $18 BILLION -- WHICH HAS AN EVALUATION OF JUST $18 BILLION.

AS OUR CONTRIBUTING REPORTER FOUND, THE SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL GAIN HAS LED TO AN ABUNDANCE OF LONG-TERM PROBLEMS.

>> PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS RENTED OUT THEIR BEACH HOUSE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND SPEND A WEEK OR A MONTH IN THE CITY.

WHAT IS NEW IS HOW EASY IT IS WHICH HAS LED TO THE PROLIFERATION.

BILL: JAMIE IS A NEWPORT CITY COUNSELOR.

AT THE TIME, SHE WAS THE MAYOR OF NEWPORT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE IMPACT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAS BEEN ON THE YEAR-ROUND RENTAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE RENTING BUT WOULD IDENTIFY NEWPORT AS THEIR HOME CITY?

>> IT HAS IMPACTED OVERALL HOUSING AS FAR AS PURCHASING AND RENTING.

WE HAVE NOT DONE A STUDY TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT RENTALS FOR OUR FULL-TIME RENTERS.

WE KNOW IT HAS IMPACTED HOUSING AVAILABILITY OVERALL.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO VIEW THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET AS PURELY AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY TO BUY HOMES AND RENT THEM FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

BILL: -- >> IF IT WAS PERMITTED ACROSS ALL OF NEWPORT COMPANY -- NEWPORT, EVERY NEAR -- EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD TURN INTO A HOTEL.

WHERE ARE WAITERS GOING TO LIVE?

WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR SALES -- WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE?

BILL: JEFF BROOKS, A REALTOR WHO OPERATES A LEGAL AIRBNB SAYS THE LOOSE REGULATIONS ALLOWED FOR A HODGEPODGE OF UNREGISTERED, SHORT-TERM, ILLEGAL RENTALS.

>> THERE ARE BENEFITS.

IF YOU REGULATE IT WHERE IT IS JUST NOT EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING, THAT IS WHERE THE TIPPING POINT HAPPENS.

BILL: IN 2018, HE SHARED THAT SHE CHAIRED A -- HE CHAIRED AN INVESTIGATORY COMMITTEE.

>> I DID NOT DO -- I DID A MARKET ANALYSIS ON WHAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT OF THE PERCENTAGE WHERE IT CAUSES EFFECTS ON THE MARKET.

THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL SHARE.

BILL: THE GROUP PUT FORTH A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING THE MANAGEMENT OF NOISE COMPLAINTS AND UNREGISTERED AIRBNB'S.

GETTING A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE NUMBERS IS NOT EASY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE FOUND WHILE THE CITY ISSUED 335 TRANSIENT GUEST FACILITY RESIGNATIONS -- ANOTHER FOR AIRBNB THEIR WORK LISTINGS POSTED AS ACTIVE IN NEWPOT IN DECEMBER 2020.

PEOPLE OPERATING UNREGISTERED AIRBNB'S HAVE LITTLE INCENTIVE TO STOP CITING ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORS AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> HE OPERATES AN ILLEGAL AIRBNB.

YOU TELL THAT HE CAN'T DO THAT, HE DOESN'T CARE.

HE MAKES ENOUGH MONEY THAT HE COULD JUST HIRE ATTORNEYS.

PART OF OUR EFFORT WAS TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT.

THE CITY HIRED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OFFICER, BASICALLY A LIAISON.

THE PERSON ANSWERS QUESTIONS.

THE PERSON WHO GOES OUT AND ENFORCES IT AND THAT KIND OF THING.

WE ARE STILL RUNNING INTO ISSUES WHERE HE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH LEEWAY TO TRULY ENFORCE IT.

BILL: THE EMERGENCE OF AIRBNB HAS THAT -- WITH SOME PEOPLE PURCHASING ENTIRE BUILDINGS AND CONVERTING THEM INTO MICRO-HOTELS, SOMETHING LONG-TERM RESIDENTS SAY HAS DRIVEN YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUT OF THE CITY.

>> NEWPORT IS URBAN AND PEOPLE.

FOR THE CONSIDERATE URBAN.

WE ARE CONSIDERED IN THE AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT RENT AND LIVE IN NEWPORT.

THE UP RISE IN AIRBNB'S ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS ALREADY HARD ENOUGH TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE IN NEWPORT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE AIRBNB IS GOING ALONG WITH THE GENTRIFICATION THAT IS HAPPENING AND THAT IS DISPLACING PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND.

BILL: NIKKO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO CONNECTION THAT ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> IT HAS TAKEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR US BECAUSE WITHOUT US HOW WILL THE CITY FUNCTION?

WE ARE A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

BILL: PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE HOUSING SHORTAGE ARE SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT MADE NEWPORT -- THAT MADE NEWPORT AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YACHT WORKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT AND TO MAKE WAY FOR SHORT-TERM PROFITABLE RENTALS.

>> I UNDERSTAND THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY BUT IT IS MORE WORTHY TO RENT THEM FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAVE THEM EMPTY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THEN TO RENT THEM OUT FOR A NORMAL PRICE THE REST OF THE YEAR.

BILL: DAN IS A RESIDENT OF NEWPORT AND ONE OF THE LEADING MUSIC CURATORS.

HE HAS A SECURE PLACE TO LIVE BUT SAYS MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN SO FORTUNATE.

>> LIVING ABOVE THOSE BUSINESSES A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIXED UP THE -- THAT STREET, MANY PEOPLE DID NOT GET RENEWED SO THEIR LANDLORDS COULD MAKE THEM AN AIRBNB.

OUT OF PEOPLE MOVED TO PROVIDENCE.

THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES IS THAT IN THE WINTERTIME YOU CAN TELL IT IS A LOT MORE EMPTY, THERE ISNOT THAT ENERGY IN THAT AREA.

BILL: FORMER MAYOR JAMIE SAYS THAT WHILE MOORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO REGULATE THE RENTALS, SOME OF THE FRUSTRATIONS CAME FROM PEOPLE WHO DID NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY.

>> MOST PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY OKAY WITH RESPONSIBLE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS A TWO FAMILY UNIT AND THEY LIVE IN ONE AND RENT OUT ANOTHER.

THEY ARE OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THERE IS A PERSON THERE FULL-TIME WHO IS BEING THE RESPONSIBLE MANAGER AND THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IS THAT A PERSON FROM ANOTHER CITY OR STATE WHO COMES IN AND BUYS A FULL HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAS IT JUST BE A NEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL EVERY WEEK.

ESPECIALLY THE BIG ONES WHICH CAN TURN INTO NUISANCE HOUSES.

BILL: JEFF BROOKS CONTENDS THAT ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS UNFAIRLY IMPACT PEOPLE LIKE HIM WHO OPERATE LEGAL AIRBNB'S.

>> IT IS A SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THERE IS A BIG PUSH TO TAX AIRBNB OPERATORS AT A COMMERCIAL RATE.

HONESTLY, SIGN ME UP.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

YOUR RUNNING A BUSINESS AND REMOVING HOUSING STOCK FROM INVENTORY.

YOU SHOULD BE PAYING A COMMERCIAL TAX RATE.

I'M NOT GOING TO PAY A HIGHER TAX WHEN I'M ALREADY PAYING ADMINISTRATION FEES AND ALREADY MEETING FIRE AND BUILDING CODE GUIDELINES AND EVERYTHING ELSE I'M DOING TO TURN AROUND AND HAVE THE GAVIN STREET.

THAT DOES -- AND HAVE A GUY ON THE STREET.

BILL: WHILE MANY BELIEVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OFFICER WITH MORE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE GUIDELINES COULD HAVE ANY IMPACT IN THE FUTURE, DAVE AND OTHER LOCAL RESIDENTS CITY TRANSIENT POPULATION AIRBNB'S BRING IN A SHOW LITTLE RESPECT FOR THE PROPERTY OR THE COMMUNITY.

>> PEOPLE YELLING AT PEOPLE OFF THE PORCH AND MAKING A MESS, JUST BEING NOISY AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THEIR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SKIN IN THE GAME LOCALLY.

THEIR LANDLORD MIGHT NOT OR DOESN'T LIVE THERE.

EVEN IF THEY LIVE IN MIDDLETOWN OR THEY LIVE OUT OF STATE.

>> AS A RESIDENT IN THE COMMUNITY, IT MAKES ME FEEL UNWANTED.

AS AN ADVOCATE, IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO DO.

AIRBNB IS TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY FROM US WHO LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

WITHOUT US, HOW WILL THE CITY FUNCTION?

WE ARE A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

BILL: FOR DAVE, THE LOSS OF COMMUNITY ALSO MEANS THE LOSS OF THE CREATIVE ENERGY THAT HAS MOVED TO THE CITY FORWARD AND KEPT IT VIBRANT.

>> THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE PICTURE AT THE NEWPORT BRIDGE ON THE WALL OF THEIR AIRBNB AND THE BUOY HANGING ON THE WALL.

LET'S GET MORE OF THAT.

IF YOU WANT MORE OF THAT, KEEP IT UP.

MICHELLE: THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

IN CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, AND BOSTON, PROTESTS HAVE LED TO LEGISLATION THAT HOLD RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROLIFERATION ON LEGAL AND -- AND ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

NO SUCH MOVES HAVE BEEN MADE IN NEWPORT.

FINALLY, WE FOLLOW THE HISTORY OF THE BEAVERTAIL LIGHTHOUSE IN JAMESTOWN.

RECORDS INDICATE THAT AS FAR BACK AS 1712, THERE WAS A BEACON OF LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE SPOT GUIDING INCOMING SHIPS.

BY 1749, A WOODEN TOWER WAS BUILT AND THE STRUCTURE BECAME THE THIRD LIGHTHOUSE IN THE 13 COLONIES WHICH WAS KNOWN BACK THEN AT THE NEWPORT LIGHT.

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES "WINDOW ON RHODE ISLAND", THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM BOARD OF RECTORS OF -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PRESIDENT LINDA TAKE US ON A TOUR.

>> LIGHTHOUSES SYMBOLIZED SAFETY .

GETTING THE SHIPS SAFELY WHERE THEY HAD TO GO.

IT WAS LIKE A FLAME THAT HE LOOKED AT AND YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY WITH.

>> HERE AT BEAVERTAIL LIGHTHOUSE , THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF THREE LIGHTHOUSES.

THE ORIGINAL ONE IN 1749, A WOODEN STRUCTURE.

IT BURNED DOWN.

IT WAS REPLACED BY THE BRICK AND MORTAR ONE FOR 108 YEARS.

THIS ONE WAS BUILT IN 1856.

THIS HAS BEEN STANDING SINCE THAT TIME.

>> THESE LENSES BURNED WHALE OIL AT ONE TIME.

THEY BURNED VERY BRIGHT AND DIRTY WHICH MEANT A LOT OF CLEANING.

ABOUT 1820, A MAN FROM NEWPORT EXPERIMENTED BURNING COAL IN A LITTLE BUILDING OUTSIDE PRODUCING A GAS WHICH THEY COULD PIPE INTO THE TOWER WHICH MADE IT MUCH EASIER.

HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WHALE OIL INDUSTRY DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY HAD BUSINESS WITH EVERY LIGHTHOUSE IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO PASS A LAW THAT ALL LIGHTHOUSES HAD TO BURN WHALE OIL.

THEY BURNED THE WHALE OIL UNTIL THE 1880'S WHEN IT WAS REPLACED WITH KEROSENE.

LATER ON, ELECTRICITY.

>> LIGHTHOUSES WERE THE GUIDES ON AMERICA'S HIGHWAY WHICH WAS THE SEA ROUTE.

RAILROADS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, TRAVEL BY SHIPS FOR CARGO AND PASSENGERS WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME DURING THE ENTIRE 1800S AND BEFORE.

>> PEOPLE SAY WHY DO THEY BOTHER TO KEEP THE LIGHTHOUSES GOING?

>IT WASN'T JUST FOR THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SMALLER VESSELS WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE TODAY FOR NAVIGATION.

MAYBE THEIR BOAT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF THING.

THEY ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WHEN IT IS FOGGY KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE TO GET BACK TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

MICHELLE: AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO BILL RAPPLEYE AIRING THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00.

WE HOPE YOU WILL HEAR US AS WE HEAR FROM HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ABOUT HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE.

I AM A MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FOR ALL OF US, GOOD NIGHT -- FROM ALL OF US, GOOD NIGHT AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.