I was going to offer some comments in response to Carol Becker's. However, I was
beaten to the punch by others. In any case, I fully agree that Council Member
Niland's proposal would have been expensive and might have been reaching for Heaven
when only the stratosphere was attainable. However, as eloquently stated by others,
(and as I suspect Jim would reply) a city that has been able to find vast amounts of
money for poor, impoverished entities like Target, Disney, and Carl Pohlad could have
surely found some more chump change for the most needy in our society.
I would also argue that Cherryhomes' (or any other public official's) record is valid
for debate. It is certainly as valid a topic for debate as Carol Becker's critique of
Jim Niland's proposal is.
Affordable housing is a regional problem and not a city one alone. However, just how
long do we wait for the suburbs to pony up their share? On a practical and moral
level, I would say that we not wait. Each day we wait, we exacerbate the problem.
How many children should go without a home and stable life (which determines future
potential) so that we can stand behind a policy of "it's not just our problem"? How
many parents should go without being able to provide a stable home for those children?
Just how terrible should those parents have to feel before we say, "now we'll have
pity on you"?
Furthermore, where is the Council in trying to find lower-cost solutions to the
problem? For example, did you know that the City of Minneapolis does not allow mobile
homes within the City? Why? Because it's "unattractive"? It conjures up negative
images and stereotypes? Is it any worse than boarded up buildings standing decrepit?
Where is the business community now? Aren't they the ones who constantly talk about
how much better than government they can do everything? Well, here's your chance.
Get in there and show us. There's lots of opportunity to do so. If you have to
compromise, why not lobby the Council to provide you some incentives to build quality
affordable housing?
The problems are complex, the solutions will be complex. However, the City Council
under the leadership of Sayles Belton and Cherryhomes could be doing much more than
they currently have.
Gary Bowman, Jr.
Ward 1-Audubon Park
City Council candidate
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