I have to say I totally agree with Terrell's comments regarding the potential MCDA shortfalls. Many of us on this list are familiar enough with the way the MCDA does business to know that there is significant opportunity for "belt tightening" at that agency. Certainly many of the projects undertaken by MCDA are of value, but often at a shocking cost. Some of this is due to relationships with contractors and developers, and some due to "personnel issues" and bureaucratic CYA. The MCDA, although improvements have occurred, is not in my opinion worthy of our tax dollars. They compete with the private market, and add cost to everything they are involved with. There was a house on Chicago Ave that MCDA wanted to spend $10K to demolish a few years ago. A reputable non-profit developer was able to acquire it with much pressure from the neighborhood group, and after rehabbing it sold it as more affordable than MCDA houses. There was a slight profit (about $8K) to invest in other houses that would have otherwise had a gap between rehab cost and sales price, and the public did not have to bear the cost of demolition and subsidization of new construction. Taxes have been increasing faster than is apparent by the rate of taxation. Consider that property taxes are calculated as a percentage of value, and values have skyrocketed over the past few years. In Central, for example, just a few years ago boarded houses had practically a negative market value, now it's hard to find a fixer-upper-from hell for less than $60K, and anything that is in decent shape goes for $150K on up, some offers even at $250K - five years ago $85K seemed like the limit in our area. My taxable value has gone up by 100% in the last two years, with relatively little additional investment in the home. Oh yes, (effective) taxes have been rising for more than a few years! Add an increase in the rate to all of that, and housing just gets that much less affordable. Let's get back to city services before we talk about tax increases. MCDA will devour any amount of funding that is fed to it - in the meantime things like snow plowing and graffitti are neglected. Incidentally, a friend recently found gang graffiti on his car, and was told by the third precinct to report it to the graffitti hotline. The "hotline" folks told him that they would be out in a few days to get pictures of it, and that's about all they could do. He washed it off. Apparently the hotline is yet another half-baked idea that has not fulfilled the expectations of the creators. David Piehl Central ______________________________________________________________________ The information contained in this message is private and confidential information which may also be subject to the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine. This information is intended only for the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or copy of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by return e-mail and destroy all copies of the message. Thank you. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
