I'm not making up this persons argument. I'm just offering an alternative explanations. Granted, I rant a little about how us net-citizens often regard obeying rules as optional rather than obligatory, but that's more because that's the common counter-argument to "hey, they're prosecuted because they broke laws.".
I strongly doubt that the parents theory applies for a couple of reasons:
* The donation is the 4th largest, but still only 1.58%. That's a bit - but there are more donations in the same ballpark. The largest donation is just shy of tenfold that amount. We're talking 40k USD here. It might move the AG a little in the desired direction, but I doubt "vastly more likely" applies here.
* The company donating isn't even in the same market. AirBnB and Glenwood Real Estate Corp. are not competitors.
* AirBnB is having the same troubles in other cities. NY is just further ahead in the hardball game.
* This has been unfolding for quite a while. I'm rather surprised it took so long.
All in all, I think your and the OPs conspiracy theory doesn't apply here. I think it's just a standard case of a startup trying to revolutionize a market that they've deemed "ripe for disruption" and on the way bulldozering their way over laws and regulations. And now they've just hit a wall that won't budge so easily. The sad part of the affair is that most of the fallout will hit the AirBnB hosts who are legally on the hook, but that's something both sides, AirBnB and the AG have willingly taken into account.
It's depressing how little money it takes to buy a politician. I would completely believe $40k. The AG isn't doing anything illegal, he has prosecutorial discretion. As we have more and more laws, more and more power is vested in him.
AGs, tend to take cases where the press is automatic, they thrive on a series of sure wins in order to keep up their public image so when they step up to running for a higher office they have all that to fall back on.
See, 40k to his personal pocket and I'd totally believe you. 1.5% of the campaign costs with more donors matching or eclipsing the donation, no, I don't buy this. It's money he never touched.
I strongly doubt that the parents theory applies for a couple of reasons:
* The donation is the 4th largest, but still only 1.58%. That's a bit - but there are more donations in the same ballpark. The largest donation is just shy of tenfold that amount. We're talking 40k USD here. It might move the AG a little in the desired direction, but I doubt "vastly more likely" applies here.
* The company donating isn't even in the same market. AirBnB and Glenwood Real Estate Corp. are not competitors.
* AirBnB is having the same troubles in other cities. NY is just further ahead in the hardball game.
* This has been unfolding for quite a while. I'm rather surprised it took so long.
All in all, I think your and the OPs conspiracy theory doesn't apply here. I think it's just a standard case of a startup trying to revolutionize a market that they've deemed "ripe for disruption" and on the way bulldozering their way over laws and regulations. And now they've just hit a wall that won't budge so easily. The sad part of the affair is that most of the fallout will hit the AirBnB hosts who are legally on the hook, but that's something both sides, AirBnB and the AG have willingly taken into account.