This housing issue is bothersome. It is real, but with all the apartment complexes going up at least in and/or near downtown Phoenix, I have yet to see one that is affordable to the people who truly need housing. (While I own a house, my house payments are about 1/3 of the rent being asked for less square footage.) When was the last one built that took Section 8 vouchers? How many "luxury" complexes are necessary to "meet" this suggested need? How many are fully occupied or owned by investors who use them for short term rentals? I find it difficult to get a straight answer.
I'm surprised that you have so firmly jumped on the platform that "its all the cities and towns fault" to the affordable housing crisis. The recent legislation, both proposed and passed, has done nothing to promote affordability, they are simply ways to bypass the public comment portion of rezoning a parcel. Are you suggesting that the public should not have any say in what is developed in their communities? I've never gotten that "vibe" from you guys here on the Agenda. I'm a supporter of the open and free market but where does the public come in? Local elected officials are shouldering the burden, public pressure and honestly the brunt of the public outrage over the number of rental units being constructed while the multi-family owners are reaping the rewards of unfettered "market-driven" rental rates. No one wants rent control but we cannot rent our way out the housing market and cities and town are not the bad guys here.
This housing issue is bothersome. It is real, but with all the apartment complexes going up at least in and/or near downtown Phoenix, I have yet to see one that is affordable to the people who truly need housing. (While I own a house, my house payments are about 1/3 of the rent being asked for less square footage.) When was the last one built that took Section 8 vouchers? How many "luxury" complexes are necessary to "meet" this suggested need? How many are fully occupied or owned by investors who use them for short term rentals? I find it difficult to get a straight answer.
I'm surprised that you have so firmly jumped on the platform that "its all the cities and towns fault" to the affordable housing crisis. The recent legislation, both proposed and passed, has done nothing to promote affordability, they are simply ways to bypass the public comment portion of rezoning a parcel. Are you suggesting that the public should not have any say in what is developed in their communities? I've never gotten that "vibe" from you guys here on the Agenda. I'm a supporter of the open and free market but where does the public come in? Local elected officials are shouldering the burden, public pressure and honestly the brunt of the public outrage over the number of rental units being constructed while the multi-family owners are reaping the rewards of unfettered "market-driven" rental rates. No one wants rent control but we cannot rent our way out the housing market and cities and town are not the bad guys here.