The fact that we now live in a city where the average price for a studio apartment is in the $1100/mo range outrageous when you compare this with the average income levels. We should be clear that "city" doesn't necessarily mean downtown or Belltown, but also Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood and the outskirts.
I am single and I make about $46,000 gross (secretary). But I live on the net and $1,115 a month in rent wipes out almost an entire paycheck (I get paid twice a month). That is not affordable rent when it takes half your income for housing. The rest of that paycheck would go for a bus pass. I don't own a car.
Luckily, I have found less expensive housing in a less desirable neighborhood many years ago and it hasn't gone up that high yet.
I think the mayor's and the city counsel's paychecks should be cut to those salaries for a year and let them see what it is like to pay half their net income for rent.
GOING POSTAL - 16 years ago
It is bad enough to have my neighborhood ruined by ugly high-rise development that is hostile to families!
Now I have to PAY greedy developers a subsidy for wrecking my neighborhood so they can bring in irresponsible moochers to be my new neighbors????? THE CITY COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF COMMUNIST NUTS!
Victor - 16 years ago
This is thge wrong economic time for the City Council to try to social engineer housing cost relief. The market will take care of itself.
Penny Saver - 16 years ago
Why do renters need to be bailed out for their poor saving habits. People should start learning to save and spend within their means. If they can't afford living in Seattle, then living here is beyond their income. The government has better things to do than to bail out people who don't know how to save.
michael - 16 years ago
Does a single person making under $47,000 need housing relief living in seattle? Yes. Is this the way to do it, absolutely not! I make about $36,000 a year and I can't afford to live anywhere near seattle, and I'm very good at managing my money. To even afford a one bedroom condo I had to buy out in Snohomish county. Try giving the tax break to the people who need it instead of the developers who are already making insane amount of money.
len - 16 years ago
Do the math... 15156 is less than 1/4 of the income for the 1bdrm. Housing relief, sure the rich need all the tax breaks they can get. I work p/t and have to rent a room at an exorbitant rate of 500 per month my median income is about 20g's annually. I don't need a tax break do I? Affordable housing in seattle is what the market will bear eh?
PB - 16 years ago
I'm not sure why I should subsidize someone living in the city - when I made 1/2 that, I had roommates and lived a good life. If people can't afford to live in city, move to where you can afford it. If in-city employers can't find people to do work for those wages, they'll have to pay more. It's all about supply and demand, and to ask the rest of us to subsidize in-city living, or to fund lower wage earners rent (so employers can get by paying less) is ridiculous.
JG - 16 years ago
PJ, all of those people you listed are folks who pull their weight and aren't slackers. They also all make about the median income (in many cases, well above - I know police sergeants who make upwards of $150k). All of those professions can afford to live in the Seattle area if they budget properly. Or, they can choose to live further out and commute. However, those jobs are paid commensurate with the experience, lifestyle and demands that go with those jobs. Why should they receive subsidized rent beyond their regular, market-driven income? I just don't get it. Again, what you seem to want is a socialist world where everybody ends up at the same level. Apparently you aren't comfortable with a world where not everybody gets to enjoy the same comforts. Some people just can't get over their guilty conscience, apparently.
nick - 16 years ago
Live within your means, don't spend more than you have, and be responsible with your money. I understand people need help from time to time however, the money I earn for my family is for my family and I need it. Complain all you want about the rich builders and what not, the reality is that these a creating jobs for many in the region. I own my home in Seattle and I have worked my but off to proved a home for my family. Before people look for a handout they should look deep within themselves and figure out how to make their own situation better. Not wait for someone else to do it for them. Not every person can afford to live in the city. If you have to live in the city make personal sacrifices to make it work within your budget.
PJ - 16 years ago
JG: And in your soul-less world, teachers, police officers, civil servants, people working in community-focused jobs are slackers who don't pull their weight? The people who work in the shops you frequent, who take care of the elderly and infirm--it would be better for us all if they decided to go take software engineering jobs so you don't have to share a couple of extra dollars a year to help keep our city diverse and supportive to everyone? Sounds like the world that's going to fail a lot sooner than there community-minded one where we understand that people come from a lot of different backgrounds and circumstances.
JG - 16 years ago
Emily, good post. What kind of housing do we really want in the Seattle area (and yes, I include Capitol/First hill, Belltown, Queen Anne, etc)? Do we really want cookie-cutter crap ass looking subsidized housing? No.
And offering these subsidies just puts more money in the pockets of developers, not the people renting.
JG - 16 years ago
PJ, you call it luck. Why are we "lucky" to have what we have? My career, my friends, my savings. Those aren't "luck."
People like to use bad luck as excuses. Guess what? You make your own luck. My ideal society isn't heartless. People can earn the lifestyle they want to enjoy. I just don't like working 25% harder to bail those out who made life choices focused on other aspects.
For instance, does that person who makes 50% less than me want to donate me half of their free time or time they spend with their family? No, and that's not realistic. So why should my sacrifice of other things to earn more money mean that I have to now give them what I get as a result of that sacrifice?
Sorry, but your idealistic world fails.
RedRoq - 16 years ago
Wow, some of you seem very angry and really have no idea what you are talking about. To "Ra" who states "some are under achievers, substance abusers, lazy or just uneducated", please keep in mind that the starting salary for teachers is about $35k, in some cities the entry level wages for police officers is only $43k. I wouldn't call these people under achievers and definitely not lazy or uneducated. They're not talking about "welfare" housing for the unemployed! These programs have strict guidlines and are meant to allow the working class to actually live in decent housing in the neighborhoods in which they work. Maybe "Ra" should get educated about the programs and the recipients before making such an ignorant comment.
Emily - 16 years ago
I don't think "housing relief" is the same thing as "subsidizing" other people's lifestyles. You are ridiculous to think the majority of the people in discussion are slackers (you have more detailed descriptions, but you mean the same thing) and I doubt you are living in a $45K income home. I make 45K, I am single, a college grad (paid for it myself, thank you) and work almost 60 hours a week at a job I love. Yes, I can afford housing: a crappy one bedroom apartment worse than I had in college, with at least a 45 minute commute to work. I'm not asking or expecting other taxpayers to deal with my problem; I want our mayor and city government to stop offering tax breaks and other incentives to massive development corporations that consistently produce poorly-constructed, unbelievably small and incredibly over-priced "homes." These are not the "homes" any of us want, it's what we're all stuck with 10, 15, 20 years longer than we should be because it is nearly impossible to find an alternative.
len - 16 years ago
Do the math... 15156 is less than 1/4 of the income for the 1bdrm. Housing relief, sure the rich need all the tax breaks they can get. I work p/t and have to rent a room at an exorbitant rate of 500 per month my median income is about 20g's annually. I don't need a tax break do I? Affordable housing in seattle is what the market will bear eh?
J - 16 years ago
The fact that we now live in a city where the average price for a studio apartment is in the $1100/mo range outrageous when you compare this with the average income levels. We should be clear that "city" doesn't necessarily mean downtown or Belltown, but also Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood and the outskirts. I'm not sure who is able to comfortably afford such high rent, unless you work for Microsoft. Not everyone in Seattle does, but the housing market seems to be oblivious to this. Home ownership was once the American dream, but it is now an impossibility for most without living one paycheck away homelessness.
The fact that Nick Licata was the ONLY council member brave enough to vote against this measure is tragic. These subsidies aren't helping the poor, or the "middle class" they are helping the builders who are only getting wealthier by the minute.
It's time to put partisan ideology aside and take back our beloved city. For everyone.
PJ - 16 years ago
JG,
I would hate to live in the kind Ayn Rand heartless society you're describing. Should those of us who are lucky help those less fortunate? Duh. But $1100 a month is a lot of money. We should be focused on helping those who can only afford the kind of rent that isn't available in reasonable housing choices in the city. I've been a homeowner in the city for the last 5 years, but before that, paid $1200 a month for a luxury high rise apartment downtown. Focus on the people (and there are lots of them in town) making minimum wage or just above that. Help them stay in housing within the city. No one wants to live in a city that is only affordable to the upper middle class.
Mike - 16 years ago
Simply put, NO.
I'm a good example of generally "below average" income. SIngle person no children. I make about $39K and pay less then $900/month rent ($1600 total shared with roomie) for a pretty nice 2 bed 2 bath, 1k sq foot TWO STORY town home apt on first hill. And this is a pretty nice modern building with many ammeneties. My only gripe is the lack of street parking and the extra $100/month for parking in the complex garage.
If "reasonable" is 30% i "should" be paying up to $1100 on my own.
but really downtown/capitol hill and first hill have reasonable rents still. IF you are patient & find the right place for you.
JG - 16 years ago
When did Seattle become so socialist? Why do the rich have to support the poor? Isn't this a capitalist country, which rewards hard work and smart choices? If you can't afford the rent, then don't rent there! Obviously somebody can afford the rent or the owner wouldn't be asking that price (and if nobody rents it, they will lower the rent). Seattle is such a pathetically sad bleeding heart city, but just like communist Russia, the system doesn't work. There are enough bums downtown already - why should we subsidize more of them? Can't wait for an opportunity to vote down this levy next time around.
Jay - 16 years ago
I'm with others - we shouldn't be subsidizing ANYBODY's rent. If you can't afford the rent, then move somewhere you can, or find roommates. I find it unbelievable that because i'm just above a certain income threshold, I have to subsidize somebody else's rent.
Let's start spending our money more wisely. It's not the state's job to prop people up and give them housing they can't economically afford. Spend that money on parks, roads, etc. Things that Government is responsible for. People need to be accountable and provide for themselves.
Sykin - 16 years ago
$46,000 is good money, if you ask me! No one said you had to live IN the city you work...there are cheaper alternatives. Move to a suburb 15 minutes away and rent suddenly drops to $600-800/month...imagine that.
Bhote - 16 years ago
$46,705 is not a low income for Seattle and the lowest take home/disposable income for a single person making $46,705 is about $37,200 or $3,100/month. If $3100/month is inadequate for a single person to live in Seattle, what is? A studio for $1115/month? Maybe if you rent this studio: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/739066487.html
garry - 16 years ago
wow, a single making that much and getting assistance. My wife and i grossed 50,000 last year (2007) and my mortgage is $1013 per month and we manage, seems like I shouldn't have to subsidize someone making more than me, where is my relief? This sounds absurd
DE - 16 years ago
What is the subsidy supposed to do? One way to look at it is to look at how far away from town a person has to live to afford life. I am single, work in Seattle and make about $51K/year. Does no one who has commented so far pay income tax? My take home pay is way less than that, as a single person. I live in Port Orchard, for heaven's sake; my rent is under $700/mo. I would really like to live closer to work, to reduce my carbon footprint, but cannot justify the additional cost. So I live with a horrible commute (I take the bus).
dg - 16 years ago
I'm a small landlord who hasn't raised rents all that much. All my units rents for way under $1100, however my taxes have increased by $1800 a yr. The subsidy you provide to big developers has a ripple effect as now I'm forced to raise rents to pay for the subsidy. Its a nice idea but its obviously not working.
R.M. - 16 years ago
Wow, as a divorced male who is paying close to $500 in child support every month and has a student loan in forbearance at the present time. Any support I can get is much needed. My rent is $1,500 per month and I make about 58,000 per year. I have looked for a roommate for three months now and it seems no one wants to pay 1/2 of the rent on a house (weird). I'm hurting!
JP - 16 years ago
What a load of #*^%. So as a home owner with a family of three making around 90K/year I have to subsidize housing for someone making the same amount of money as me? How does this make sense? More importantly how do I sign up for this programming? Maybe I can get my money I pay in back....
Laura - 16 years ago
If you are single and you do not have kids you do not have the major expenses like families do.
When I made 42K, my rent was $1200, and I lived a great life and even bought a new car.
It was my personal choice to spend that much on rent, everyone has a choice, no one needs to extend themselves if they are worried about their financial standing. If you are single working professional get a two bedroom and share rent!
Emily M. Webster - 16 years ago
I am single and I make about $46,000 gross (secretary). But I live on the net and $1,115 a month in rent wipes out almost an entire paycheck (I get paid twice a month). That is not affordable rent when it takes half your income for housing. The rest of that paycheck would go for a bus pass. I don't own a car.
Luckily, I have found less expensive housing in a less desirable neighborhood many years ago and it hasn't gone up that high yet.
I think the mayor's and the city counsel's paychecks should be cut to those salaries for a year and let them see what it is like to pay half their net income for rent.
Matthew Moeller - 16 years ago
Affordable for who?!? I worked 25 years trying to enforce the minimum housing standards and believe me, most of the families I met didn't make enough to rent a studio apartment. The only people helped by the tax break are the developers. Why? Because low income people can't afford the "low" rents. No one will ever follow up to ensure the rents stay "low". Get real Mr. Mayor!
Ra - 16 years ago
I shouldn't have to subsidize anyones income PERIOD ! We all make choices in life and all have a level of success goals. Some are under achievers, substance abusers, lazy or just uneducated but I am not responsible for peoples choices and thats why I chose to live in a rural county away from all you bleeding hearts.
The fact that we now live in a city where the average price for a studio apartment is in the $1100/mo range outrageous when you compare this with the average income levels. We should be clear that "city" doesn't necessarily mean downtown or Belltown, but also Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood and the outskirts.
But the booting time has increased quite a lot...but I dont mind that since rest of the functionalities are almost perfect.
I am single and I make about $46,000 gross (secretary). But I live on the net and $1,115 a month in rent wipes out almost an entire paycheck (I get paid twice a month). That is not affordable rent when it takes half your income for housing. The rest of that paycheck would go for a bus pass. I don't own a car.
Luckily, I have found less expensive housing in a less desirable neighborhood many years ago and it hasn't gone up that high yet.
I think the mayor's and the city counsel's paychecks should be cut to those salaries for a year and let them see what it is like to pay half their net income for rent.
It is bad enough to have my neighborhood ruined by ugly high-rise development that is hostile to families!
Now I have to PAY greedy developers a subsidy for wrecking my neighborhood so they can bring in irresponsible moochers to be my new neighbors????? THE CITY COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF COMMUNIST NUTS!
This is thge wrong economic time for the City Council to try to social engineer housing cost relief. The market will take care of itself.
Why do renters need to be bailed out for their poor saving habits. People should start learning to save and spend within their means. If they can't afford living in Seattle, then living here is beyond their income. The government has better things to do than to bail out people who don't know how to save.
Does a single person making under $47,000 need housing relief living in seattle? Yes. Is this the way to do it, absolutely not! I make about $36,000 a year and I can't afford to live anywhere near seattle, and I'm very good at managing my money. To even afford a one bedroom condo I had to buy out in Snohomish county. Try giving the tax break to the people who need it instead of the developers who are already making insane amount of money.
Do the math... 15156 is less than 1/4 of the income for the 1bdrm. Housing relief, sure the rich need all the tax breaks they can get. I work p/t and have to rent a room at an exorbitant rate of 500 per month my median income is about 20g's annually. I don't need a tax break do I? Affordable housing in seattle is what the market will bear eh?
I'm not sure why I should subsidize someone living in the city - when I made 1/2 that, I had roommates and lived a good life. If people can't afford to live in city, move to where you can afford it. If in-city employers can't find people to do work for those wages, they'll have to pay more. It's all about supply and demand, and to ask the rest of us to subsidize in-city living, or to fund lower wage earners rent (so employers can get by paying less) is ridiculous.
PJ, all of those people you listed are folks who pull their weight and aren't slackers. They also all make about the median income (in many cases, well above - I know police sergeants who make upwards of $150k). All of those professions can afford to live in the Seattle area if they budget properly. Or, they can choose to live further out and commute. However, those jobs are paid commensurate with the experience, lifestyle and demands that go with those jobs. Why should they receive subsidized rent beyond their regular, market-driven income? I just don't get it. Again, what you seem to want is a socialist world where everybody ends up at the same level. Apparently you aren't comfortable with a world where not everybody gets to enjoy the same comforts. Some people just can't get over their guilty conscience, apparently.
Live within your means, don't spend more than you have, and be responsible with your money. I understand people need help from time to time however, the money I earn for my family is for my family and I need it. Complain all you want about the rich builders and what not, the reality is that these a creating jobs for many in the region. I own my home in Seattle and I have worked my but off to proved a home for my family. Before people look for a handout they should look deep within themselves and figure out how to make their own situation better. Not wait for someone else to do it for them. Not every person can afford to live in the city. If you have to live in the city make personal sacrifices to make it work within your budget.
JG: And in your soul-less world, teachers, police officers, civil servants, people working in community-focused jobs are slackers who don't pull their weight? The people who work in the shops you frequent, who take care of the elderly and infirm--it would be better for us all if they decided to go take software engineering jobs so you don't have to share a couple of extra dollars a year to help keep our city diverse and supportive to everyone? Sounds like the world that's going to fail a lot sooner than there community-minded one where we understand that people come from a lot of different backgrounds and circumstances.
Emily, good post. What kind of housing do we really want in the Seattle area (and yes, I include Capitol/First hill, Belltown, Queen Anne, etc)? Do we really want cookie-cutter crap ass looking subsidized housing? No.
And offering these subsidies just puts more money in the pockets of developers, not the people renting.
PJ, you call it luck. Why are we "lucky" to have what we have? My career, my friends, my savings. Those aren't "luck."
People like to use bad luck as excuses. Guess what? You make your own luck. My ideal society isn't heartless. People can earn the lifestyle they want to enjoy. I just don't like working 25% harder to bail those out who made life choices focused on other aspects.
For instance, does that person who makes 50% less than me want to donate me half of their free time or time they spend with their family? No, and that's not realistic. So why should my sacrifice of other things to earn more money mean that I have to now give them what I get as a result of that sacrifice?
Sorry, but your idealistic world fails.
Wow, some of you seem very angry and really have no idea what you are talking about. To "Ra" who states "some are under achievers, substance abusers, lazy or just uneducated", please keep in mind that the starting salary for teachers is about $35k, in some cities the entry level wages for police officers is only $43k. I wouldn't call these people under achievers and definitely not lazy or uneducated. They're not talking about "welfare" housing for the unemployed! These programs have strict guidlines and are meant to allow the working class to actually live in decent housing in the neighborhoods in which they work. Maybe "Ra" should get educated about the programs and the recipients before making such an ignorant comment.
I don't think "housing relief" is the same thing as "subsidizing" other people's lifestyles. You are ridiculous to think the majority of the people in discussion are slackers (you have more detailed descriptions, but you mean the same thing) and I doubt you are living in a $45K income home. I make 45K, I am single, a college grad (paid for it myself, thank you) and work almost 60 hours a week at a job I love. Yes, I can afford housing: a crappy one bedroom apartment worse than I had in college, with at least a 45 minute commute to work. I'm not asking or expecting other taxpayers to deal with my problem; I want our mayor and city government to stop offering tax breaks and other incentives to massive development corporations that consistently produce poorly-constructed, unbelievably small and incredibly over-priced "homes." These are not the "homes" any of us want, it's what we're all stuck with 10, 15, 20 years longer than we should be because it is nearly impossible to find an alternative.
Do the math... 15156 is less than 1/4 of the income for the 1bdrm. Housing relief, sure the rich need all the tax breaks they can get. I work p/t and have to rent a room at an exorbitant rate of 500 per month my median income is about 20g's annually. I don't need a tax break do I? Affordable housing in seattle is what the market will bear eh?
The fact that we now live in a city where the average price for a studio apartment is in the $1100/mo range outrageous when you compare this with the average income levels. We should be clear that "city" doesn't necessarily mean downtown or Belltown, but also Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood and the outskirts. I'm not sure who is able to comfortably afford such high rent, unless you work for Microsoft. Not everyone in Seattle does, but the housing market seems to be oblivious to this. Home ownership was once the American dream, but it is now an impossibility for most without living one paycheck away homelessness.
The fact that Nick Licata was the ONLY council member brave enough to vote against this measure is tragic. These subsidies aren't helping the poor, or the "middle class" they are helping the builders who are only getting wealthier by the minute.
It's time to put partisan ideology aside and take back our beloved city. For everyone.
JG,
I would hate to live in the kind Ayn Rand heartless society you're describing. Should those of us who are lucky help those less fortunate? Duh. But $1100 a month is a lot of money. We should be focused on helping those who can only afford the kind of rent that isn't available in reasonable housing choices in the city. I've been a homeowner in the city for the last 5 years, but before that, paid $1200 a month for a luxury high rise apartment downtown. Focus on the people (and there are lots of them in town) making minimum wage or just above that. Help them stay in housing within the city. No one wants to live in a city that is only affordable to the upper middle class.
Simply put, NO.
I'm a good example of generally "below average" income. SIngle person no children. I make about $39K and pay less then $900/month rent ($1600 total shared with roomie) for a pretty nice 2 bed 2 bath, 1k sq foot TWO STORY town home apt on first hill. And this is a pretty nice modern building with many ammeneties. My only gripe is the lack of street parking and the extra $100/month for parking in the complex garage.
If "reasonable" is 30% i "should" be paying up to $1100 on my own.
but really downtown/capitol hill and first hill have reasonable rents still. IF you are patient & find the right place for you.
When did Seattle become so socialist? Why do the rich have to support the poor? Isn't this a capitalist country, which rewards hard work and smart choices? If you can't afford the rent, then don't rent there! Obviously somebody can afford the rent or the owner wouldn't be asking that price (and if nobody rents it, they will lower the rent). Seattle is such a pathetically sad bleeding heart city, but just like communist Russia, the system doesn't work. There are enough bums downtown already - why should we subsidize more of them? Can't wait for an opportunity to vote down this levy next time around.
I'm with others - we shouldn't be subsidizing ANYBODY's rent. If you can't afford the rent, then move somewhere you can, or find roommates. I find it unbelievable that because i'm just above a certain income threshold, I have to subsidize somebody else's rent.
Let's start spending our money more wisely. It's not the state's job to prop people up and give them housing they can't economically afford. Spend that money on parks, roads, etc. Things that Government is responsible for. People need to be accountable and provide for themselves.
$46,000 is good money, if you ask me! No one said you had to live IN the city you work...there are cheaper alternatives. Move to a suburb 15 minutes away and rent suddenly drops to $600-800/month...imagine that.
$46,705 is not a low income for Seattle and the lowest take home/disposable income for a single person making $46,705 is about $37,200 or $3,100/month. If $3100/month is inadequate for a single person to live in Seattle, what is? A studio for $1115/month? Maybe if you rent this studio: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/739066487.html
wow, a single making that much and getting assistance. My wife and i grossed 50,000 last year (2007) and my mortgage is $1013 per month and we manage, seems like I shouldn't have to subsidize someone making more than me, where is my relief? This sounds absurd
What is the subsidy supposed to do? One way to look at it is to look at how far away from town a person has to live to afford life. I am single, work in Seattle and make about $51K/year. Does no one who has commented so far pay income tax? My take home pay is way less than that, as a single person. I live in Port Orchard, for heaven's sake; my rent is under $700/mo. I would really like to live closer to work, to reduce my carbon footprint, but cannot justify the additional cost. So I live with a horrible commute (I take the bus).
I'm a small landlord who hasn't raised rents all that much. All my units rents for way under $1100, however my taxes have increased by $1800 a yr. The subsidy you provide to big developers has a ripple effect as now I'm forced to raise rents to pay for the subsidy. Its a nice idea but its obviously not working.
Wow, as a divorced male who is paying close to $500 in child support every month and has a student loan in forbearance at the present time. Any support I can get is much needed. My rent is $1,500 per month and I make about 58,000 per year. I have looked for a roommate for three months now and it seems no one wants to pay 1/2 of the rent on a house (weird). I'm hurting!
What a load of #*^%. So as a home owner with a family of three making around 90K/year I have to subsidize housing for someone making the same amount of money as me? How does this make sense? More importantly how do I sign up for this programming? Maybe I can get my money I pay in back....
If you are single and you do not have kids you do not have the major expenses like families do.
When I made 42K, my rent was $1200, and I lived a great life and even bought a new car.
It was my personal choice to spend that much on rent, everyone has a choice, no one needs to extend themselves if they are worried about their financial standing. If you are single working professional get a two bedroom and share rent!
I am single and I make about $46,000 gross (secretary). But I live on the net and $1,115 a month in rent wipes out almost an entire paycheck (I get paid twice a month). That is not affordable rent when it takes half your income for housing. The rest of that paycheck would go for a bus pass. I don't own a car.
Luckily, I have found less expensive housing in a less desirable neighborhood many years ago and it hasn't gone up that high yet.
I think the mayor's and the city counsel's paychecks should be cut to those salaries for a year and let them see what it is like to pay half their net income for rent.
Affordable for who?!? I worked 25 years trying to enforce the minimum housing standards and believe me, most of the families I met didn't make enough to rent a studio apartment. The only people helped by the tax break are the developers. Why? Because low income people can't afford the "low" rents. No one will ever follow up to ensure the rents stay "low". Get real Mr. Mayor!
I shouldn't have to subsidize anyones income PERIOD ! We all make choices in life and all have a level of success goals. Some are under achievers, substance abusers, lazy or just uneducated but I am not responsible for peoples choices and thats why I chose to live in a rural county away from all you bleeding hearts.