Ahead of the World Cup, New York is about to face a once-in-a-generation moment, with millions of visitors poised to descend — and spend! — even more in the city. This should be a moment for New Yorkers to capitalize on, but unfortunately for many, it looks likely to amount to little more than a gift to those already doing just fine. With hotel capacity already strained, the real question is whether we will give New Yorkers a chance to share in that windfall, not to mention keeping costs down for visiting fans.

To truly take advantage of this moment, our city needs to pull out all the stops. One way to do this would be to allow for increased homesharing during the World Cup.

At Tech:NYC, we’re focused on building an inclusive and dynamic economy where technology expands economic access and ensures more New Yorkers can participate in the city’s growth. That means making sure opportunity is not concentrated, but shared across communities, boroughs, and households. When it comes to tourism, right now, we are doing the opposite.

The issue comes down in large part to if New Yorkers can help accommodate this surge in visitors — and cash in on what is an epic economic opportunity. Local Law 18 was intended to address housing affordability — but three years in, it hasn’t worked. Everyday New Yorkers continue to be priced out while homeowners in the outer boroughs struggle. New York has never been more expensive for both residents and visitors alike. And at the same time when demand for travel to our region is surging, we are shutting everyday New Yorkers and tourists out.

New data shows that young travelers are increasingly looking at New Jersey for stays, with searches by Gen Z for stays in the New York and New Jersey area up more than 200% and group travel searches up nearly 300%. These visitors are looking for connection and affordability — but our laws are making both impossible. Instead of meeting that demand while allowing residents across the five boroughs to benefit, our current policies are leaving that opportunity on the table.

We’re telling New York families that they cannot occasionally rent out their home to help pay the bills, even as hotel prices soar and availability tightens. We’re telling them that the economic upside of hosting the world belongs to someone else, and that the benefits of living in the greatest city in the world are not theirs to share.

That is not equity. That is exclusion. And that’s why New York City needs to go back to the drawing board.

If we’re serious about affordability, we should be looking for more ways to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets. Across the country, other progressive cities and regions are stepping up to meet this moment. Washington, D.C., Boulder, Houston, and communities across New Jersey are embracing technology, and expanding opportunities for residents to share in the economic upside of global events like the World Cup.

We need to be smart about this, and that includes being realistic with policy. Allowing home sharing during the World Cup and beyond would give residents a chance to earn meaningful income to cover bills, pay down debt, or keep up with the cost of living, instead of shutting them out.

Let’s not squander this opportunity by protecting a failed status quo. Let’s give more New Yorkers a seat at the table and a real chance to share in the upside of one of the biggest moments in our city’s history.

Samuels is president and CEO of Tech:NYC.