Mark Snyder writes: >" After reading the post that suggests tax dollars go to subsidizing renters in more affluent neighborhoods, I'm not sure how this alone solves anything?"
Mark is correct, this alone does not solve anything, but it begins to be part of a solution. The one clear thing is that having the City subsidize large, institutional like, multi-unit, rental buildings (for developer buddies) IS the formula for further poverty, NOT a solution. Subsidizing a shoddy, stick built, incubator for mold, mildew, AND poverty at a figure ($159,000) that is greater than the amount a quality single family house costs ($140,000) is for sure not the cure to anything I can think of. It's not hard to figure out. Ask yourself which would be a better vehicle to take a family out of poverty? A one or two bedroom apartment in a building filled with other poor folks OR owning your own nice three or four bedroom home? Which would YOU and most folks chose? Which would be more likely to break a cycle of poverty and crime? Ask yourself, which would be better for your own family, and I will bet you have the answer for poor families too. Some say well poor families are not prepared to take care of and maintain a home that they own. Both are most middle class families, they call the plumber, and they call the electrician. After subsidizing a rental unit at $20,000 more than a home we continue to subsidize the rent on the unit, we continue to subsidize the "social" costs for the family, wouldn't it be cheaper to spend a small amount and subsidize the life skills training for the family? So they can be successful? Heck I have a couple of kids I would not mind forcing to go thru that training! By the way, what makes the people who raise the "not prepared for ownership" argument think that people know how to be good renters? People from poverty also need life-skills to be good renters. Without those skills see how long the family will last in one of the "subsidized" units. You can miss a payment on a house and make it up. Miss a rent payment to one of the poverty pimps and see where you end up? On the street, cause the City doesn't want you under its bridges! Has anyone really looked at how quick someone can become homeless if they live in one of the " affordable, subsidized" rental units? Most "For-Profit" property owners will cut some slack for a family. You have a problem and don't pay your rent to a Non-Profit Land-Lord and baby you are gone with a "UD" on your record. The difference between "Poor" and "Poverty" is often the difference between owning a home and renting a "subsidized" apartment. It costs us a whole lot less to break that chain. It is a whole lot easier to become middle class if you are a poor homeowner than if you are an impoverished renter. Make your payments on a home for a few years and Poof (like magic) you are middle class. Make your payments on an "affordable" rental unit for a few years and poof (no magic) you are still in poverty. The secret to breaking the cycle of poverty is to take people out of poverty. And that is NO secret! To give hope and stability to a family is the secret that Cousin Jimmy Carter stumbled upon years ago. The one sure way IS to create affordable homeownership. Neighborhood residents are smart enough to also know this. Most of them KNOW that they live pay-check to pay-check and the only stability their families have is their house. It is the ONLY type of affordable housing that most neighborhoods willingly accept. Neighborhoods will accept it because neighborhood residents know it is the one sure method that successfully breaks the cycle of poverty. Neighborhood residents know this gives the community one more stable family, not possibly another problem. Our neighborhood welcomes and celebrates its Latin Americans, African Americans, and Asian American homeowners. The one group that has in the past been left out is the First Americans. The most discriminated group of people in America for homeownership (and the American dream) has been the Native Americans. But the residents in my neighborhood are trying to make sure Indian People are also included in and a part of our dreams. NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) does not apply to people having back yards of their own. If you have more BYOTO's (Back Yard Of Their Own) you will have a lot less NIMBY's in other neighborhoods too. Jim Graham, Ventura Village >" If you ever hope to be a person who has achieved great things you must first have been great dreamer. All others are doomed to failure or mediocrity. So Crickets dream and become the Dreamweavers for others." TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ 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
