If the goal of NRP is to empower all people in neighborhoods, maybe we should let the program die. Instead, we can give block grants to neighborhoods for city services. For housing resources, we can seek out new methods of funding. Part One - (see separate e-mail for Part Two) For point of argument, consider it given that tenants are ignored in this city. Other residents also are ignored, but a complaint against NRP is that it favors home owners over renters. Below are some of the difficulties tenants face . Last autumn, when a representative from the school board asked for neighborhood support of the funding referendum, she had a chart showing anticipated tax burdens on owner-occupied homes. When asked about tenants' costs, she said she didn't have any idea, but guessed that they would probably be similar to those of home owners. (Should the proposed referendum to replace the financing of NRP make it onto the ballot, I hope tenants are not ignored in campaigns for support.) When I tried to find out where to place cardboard for recycling at my apartment building, I discovered privately-contracted haulers are not meeting requirements under city ordinances for collection or for education. Yet, city and state officials claim Minneapolis has a wonderful recycling program. From what I hear, unless a resident lives in a larger multi-unit building, the city does do a good job recycling. When several landlords left snow and ice on public walkways and common steps last winter, tenants had little recourse other than to remove it themselves or wait weeks for the city to clear only the sidewalk. Even if the city did the work, a property owner was given a very low fine and charged below cost for the removal. (One neighborhood's options to use NRP funds for "livability," as mentioned in the neighborhood 's paper listed a garden tour and adding trees to public spaces. Compare this to residents walking in streets because sidewalks were too dangerous, and the people who might have broken ribs, hit their heads, had knee surgery, and other long-lasting physical injuries because sidewalks weren't passable, including those in and around parks. In addition, note that grant money for trees is available from non-governmental sources.) Also for the sake of argument, consider it given that government housing policy has failed. (If it had succeeded, we wouldn't see demand on homeless shelters and food banks such as we have. Which raises a question, has any NRP money been used to refurbish a homeless shelter or food kitchen to make them nicer?) Furthermore, debate over the policy has focused almost exclusively on a concept labeled "affordable housing" which has come to be equated with subsidies. Two other topics are related to affordability. One is an apparently unquestioned assumption that home owners, by definition, are good for a neighborhood, while renters are a scourge. Although not in these exact words, official state publications have stated it is for this reason that the priority is for home ownership. Also germane to the issue is a discussion of when do we as a community stop supporting an individual's right to keep a home or to live in a particular place when confronted by problems brought on by aging, loss of income, or another variable. For example, I'll hear a senior citizen worry that high property taxes may force her to move. The next day, I'll hear a comment that the senior citizen needs to move so a new, younger family can buy her house. Housing should be reflective of individual needs and priorities. Unfortunately, current policy seems to focus on housing solely as an investment. Finally, for the sake of argument, consider it given that Minneapolis does not provide basic services for its residences or businesses at an acceptable level. If basic services aren't being met and city residents can't get answers, who exactly has been empowered by NRP? Rosa Field, Ward 10 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
