Weekend Birmingham pool party reignites debate over regulating short-term rentals

A roudy pool party at a Birmingham home has renewed debate over short-term rentals after neighbors complained police didn’t shut down the party sooner, despite reports of public intoxication, traffic backups and cars blocking driveways. Birmingham police said they were called multiple times Saturday to a home on Westchester Way, south of Maple Road, after a backyard pool was rented through the app Swimply, which allows homeowners to rent pools by the hour. Police Chief Scott Grewe said officers first responded around 4 p.m. and found about 50 to 60 people there, but said no laws were being violated at the time.