It's not that simple. If you actually lived in New York, you wouldn't be so quick to say that AirBnB are the good guys here.
I live in an apartment complex that has tons of rent controlled units. Regardless of your thoughts on rent control, it is something that is the law today and there are a number of strings attached. One of these restrictions is that it has to be your primary residence. There are people here who have turned their cheap, rent controlled apartment into a fly by night hotel. It is 100% illegal and I applaud the city for cracking down.
Additionally:
-It reduces the inventory of apartments in New York and artificially inflates rent for people who actually live here.
-Operating a hotel is something that is regulated by laws and the people renting out space on AirBnB aren't going to adhere to them.
-There are safety concerns as well, especially for those living in apartment buildings without doormen