Jay's points are well taken. I don't think any neighborhood should be able to spend less than 52.5 percent of their NRP money on housing-related programs. While Linden Hills did a lot of non-housing-related projects, we did leverage our funds well. We also had housing, and small business related programs that required significant matching contributions. For example, we have a revolving loan program for home improvement projects-- no give aways, all money recirculates. While Phase 1 housing expenditures in Linden Hills may have fallen somewhat short of the 52.5 percent level, I'm confident that by the time Phase 2 is completed, our overall housing-related expenditures will fall in the 60-70 percent range, possibly higher.
NRP has seven centralized housing-related funds proposed under Phase 2, where neighborhoods would contribute their dollars into various funds of their choosing, that would then be centrally managed for improved consistency and efficiency. The program funds could be directed toward programs in the specific neighborhood, or toward city-wide activities. Comments are currently being solicited on how these programs should be structured technically. For example, as proposed, some funds have no income restrictions for eligibility. I'd hope all housing-related programs in Phase 2 are targeted toward the lower-income segments of the population, i.e. below the 30 and 50 percent of MMI ranges, given that city incomes tend to be much lower that metro-wide incomes in the first place. Check with your neighborhood association/NRP group on getting input to how these programs are ultimately structured. Michael Hohmann Linden Hills 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
