The entire discussion of affordable housing on the Mpls-Issues listserv suffers from the same selective presentation and social amnesia. Instead of arguing over policy, it is polemics and ideology. This is a very complex subject that includes how federal tax policy impacts local programs, the ways block grants are structured, and how state funding formulas are translated. Instead of looking at relationships and impacts, people throw sound bites like $100,000 per unit subsidy, "nonprofiteers," cabals of elected officials, favored developers, and builders, "my" taxes, public trougth etc.
In my opinion, the anti affordable housing advocates use a shotgun approach that highlights their perceived self-interest. Instead of arguing policy, the discussion becomes the same complaint that is repeated and repeated. The pro affordable housing advocates get into defense mode to protect their programs. Nothing ever gets resolved. Possible solutions: 1. Evaluate the structure of federal housing subsidies and programs and show the impact on how the city's housing department implements these programs. 2. Convene a blue-ribbon panel to evaluate the city's programs and the ways it structures state and federal subsidies. 3. Argue policy questions that relate to improving the deliveries and impacts of such programs. And please. Can we stop acting like a bunch of peasants who sit around and complain about the "law of limited good?" ( there is only a limited amount of good in the world. If something good happens to you, then something is subtracted from me.) David Wilson Loring Park On Tue, 4 May 2004, Paul Lohman wrote: > Bill Cullen wrote: > >Do I understand this right? A developer offers to build TWO affordable > >housing units at ZERO cost to the taxpayers, and our council rejects it. > >While another developer offers to build FOUR affordable units at a cost of > >$1,000,000 to the taxpayers and our council is likely to approve it? > > > >It appears easier to get Barret Lane's approval if one wants huge taxpayer > >subsidy than if he has to confront a bit of NIMBY'ism. > > > >I am not sure what is more shocking. Mr. Lane's lack of leadership or the > >taxpayer's silence. > > Lohman: > I kind of laughed when I read this... kind of. Anyone who knows Barret > Lane also knows that he is one of the toughest members of the city council > when it comes to handing out "huge taxpayer" subsidies. Give me a break. > > But it's also a little irritating to read this when the issue is so much > more complicated than simply judging this the way Mr. Cullen has. Good, > honest debate. We all welcome that. But taking this clear "apples and > oranges" issue and using it to attack Barret Lane is silly and unfair. > > Bill Cullen wrote: > >Is anyone watching? > > Ah, um, er,......yes. And I guess this is a bit picky but the new housing > project in Linden Hills on west 44th street is five units, not four. But > look at it this way, you're getting 20% more units for the same amount of > money. > > Paul Lohman > Lynnhurst > > > Paul Lohman > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > web: www.paullohman.com > > 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 > 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
