ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo must soon decide whether to authorize hefty fines for many people who offer to rent out their New York City apartments on Airbnb.

The Democratic governor's office says that legislation is under review.

Meanwhile, the online booking service says it's policing its website better to remove commercial operators, addressing a chief complaint of critics who say it promotes illegal hotels and takes scarce apartments out of circulation.

Airbnb, with 45,000 city listings, says it enables New Yorkers to make extra money and pay their own rising rents.

It's illegal to rent most city apartments for less than 30 days, a law that's proved hard to enforce.

The legislation would authorize punishment just for advertising such a rental.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

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