AirBnb can't be surprised, NYC is one of the most contentious markets for renters and landlords. There's far more tenants than potential AirBnb landlords. While the hotel industry may well have made campaign contributions to sway the legislature & governor, the fact is that rental regulations are the third rail of NY/NYC politics and anything that screws tenants, as the rise of AirBnb has, is bound to get slapped down.
Look, if you come into a highly regulated and highly personal market as AirBnb did in NYC, you simply can't be surprised at the reaction by politicians, if you are then you are incredibly naive.
