In a message dated 12/24/02 11:22:39 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > Consider this: The US government is spending billions and billions of > dollars of public money to destroy the infrastructure of Iraq in its attempt > to keep the petroleum profits flowing into the pockets of Bush and Cheney's > cronies. At the same time, Minneapolis has 6,000 units of public housing and > 12,000 people on the waiting list but the US government has no money to > build public housing. > Dear Dean; I have a different opinion of what the US government is doing on the other side of the World, but I will save that for a different forum. I do believe there may be up to 6000 "for rent" signs already posted in apt windows and yards around the City. We face an emergency in that regard, too. Perhaps the City should put the wheels in motion to subsidize development, and production, of another 6000 "for rent" signs post haste? If we build a home with government money for each person that wants one; we will need those additional signs to post in all the freshly vacated units which require people to pay for their housing. Caveat: I do believe clean and safe public housing should be the housing of last resort; short term. And in Long term only for a small percentage of the public; those chronically homeless who do not belong in private housing. I do not think public housing is fully shouldering those duties at this time. And who will build, or maintain, privately funded housing when the government pays for, and provides, housing for all who need it? Thus the supply side of the housing market will be made chronically weaker, and more "need" for subsidy will be created. We may not even have a housing shortage in this town. But I know there is a money shortage, a work shortage, a shortage of even semiskilled young laborers, and safe streets in the hood. Perhaps our municipal government can address those issues. As a hardworking and practical CM; I am sure you are already intervening in these matters. Let private developers develop housing; government can help citizens to find sustainable ways to pay family bills and enhance family budgets. Keith Reitman NearNorth _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
