In a message dated 3/16/03 4:48:22 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> > So what else is there? One thought I had was whether it would be possible > to create a voluntary program for businesses located in Minneapolis. The > business pays a living wage to employees who are Minneapolis residents > (maybe leave out teenagers that are working the after-school or summer job) > and get a tax credit of some kind. I'm guessing it would probably have to > be a property tax credit, since I don't know what other taxes business pay > specifically to Minneapolis. > > Obviously, there would be folks who say we cannot afford to do something > like this with the deficits we're facing, but I wonder. > > If our residents are earning a paycheck they can thrive on, how much would > we save in not having to subsidize housing as much? Keith says; Your heart is in the right place; improving peoples' lives. And your mind is open; listening to the ideas of professional problem solvers called "landlord". It is the conditioned response, your knee jerk response, that needs to be checked. You, and others, say city dwelling heads of families, in poverty, need better pay. Let us promote the individual; not subsidize the market place. Let us determine, and promote, learning the skill sets needed to earn more in the market. Let us promote the individual's marketability. Let us not set up an arcane, labyrinthine system to subsidize burger flipping, or whatever else in a low orbit, with government money. It is a dead end with a huge price tag. Recommendation: Train a person to repair older dwellings. Replace door knobs, change a lock, refit a door. Also fix, and unplug, toilets, and other minor plumbing. Replace a smoke detector is common. Paint a wall, or a room. Rescreen, or reglaze a window, is often essential. Some knowledge, an alarm clock, a couple buckets of tools, sobriety, a drivers license, and a small PU. Good to go. Subsidy over. I just wrote the job description of the guy, or gail, that could come to work for me tomorrow. If you qualify, please E-mail me. Keith Reitman NearNorth TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
