Is it really progress to go from 80% metro median income subsidies in the 1990s, to counting shelter beds as "affordable housing" units, to toying with 80% metro median income subsidies as a sensible future goal in 2004/5 and after as was intimated in the Ways and Means committee meeting?
It troubles me to see CM Lilligren talking disparagingly (same Ways and Means on Nov. 20) about 50% metro median income households as less than desirable in Minneapolis' future housing mix. That's about $38,350 annual income these days, $19+/hr. Applying that income standard to the existing household mix in the either the new Sixth Ward or the old Eighth Ward would bring quite the cloud banks over the sun in near south Minneapolis, would it not? With the caveat that the NRP site is still using 1990 census data, consider the following MMI household incomes: Phillips ($12,254 = 16% MMI) Stevens Square/Loring Heights ($14,417 = 19% MMI) Whittier ($17,325 = 23% MMI) Central ($19,528 = 25% MMI) I imagine 2003 neighborhood MMI percentages would be more robust, but still nowhere near 50% MMI. It is common knowledge that the shortfall of affordable housing - say 12-15,000 units - is at the low end of % MMI, way below 50% MMI. So when Rybak staffer Takeshita blithely includes shelter beds, CM Lilligren denigrates the need for housing that his constituencies can afford, and CM Johnson wants to drain the affordable housing trust fund dollars on behalf of property tax relief (that would apply across the board, don't forget, not just to the benefit of low-end homeowners) ... It seems to me that mission drift in the City's leadership is alive and well in the affordable housing campaign. Fred Markus, West Phillips, old Ward 8-1, new Ward 6-7 (for now) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.543 / Virus Database: 337 - Release Date: 11/21/2003 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
