Why Does Gilbert Shun Funds for Low-Income Families? (Scottsdale: 2014, taxes)

[Potential_Landlord]

What's behind the Gilbert city council giving up federal funds for their own low-income families and instead redirecting the money to Scottsdale? Do they not want to support their own low-income families or do they even want them to move to other valley cities?


Gilbert shuns $484,000 in U.S. housing money

[observer53]

Very conservative council, several new members. They evidently thought about turning down community development block grants, too. Not taking federal money, even when the money would be good for the city, state (think Florida there) is pretty common amongst very conservative office holders looking to appeal to the Tea Party type constituency.

[tumamoc]

Tea time.

[LBTRS]

The vacant land in Gilbert is limited for new development so it probably has to do with wanting to create an affluent community and not create areas of low-income housing that may attract residents they don't already have.

I know it sucks but the reality is that low-income areas of towns are where the majority of problems come from.

[ji603]

Because they have principles?

You accept dollars from the fedgov, you accept the strings that come with it. Why does noone understand that some people place their values over money? I'm glad they turned it down, good for them.

[Bondurant]

Money from the Feds was taken from someone else. It amazes me that people think money from the government is free.

[new2colo]

Who stated they government money is free? I pretty sure most people learned that government money comes from the public, mainly in the form of taxes. What baffles me is the logic that if Gilbert doesn't take it, it somehow gets redistributed back to the public. No. It is just given to another city.

Gilbert is clearly trying to create a city for the middle class and above and doesn't want its image to include lower income residents.

[Iowastater]

Originally Posted by new2colo

Who stated they government money is free? I pretty sure most people learned that government money comes from the public, mainly in the form of taxes. What baffles me is the logic that if Gilbert doesn't take it, it somehow gets redistributed back to the public. No. It is just given to another city.

Gilbert is clearly trying to create a city for the middle class and above and doesn't want its image to include lower income residents.

How can you blame them? There is not a city in the country that wants its image to include low-income residents. You don't see many trailer parks featured on city marketing literature. That's not a way to attract people.

[11Hungrybb]

Originally Posted by ji603

Because they have principles?

You accept dollars from the fedgov, you accept the strings that come with it. Why does noone understand that some people place their values over money? I'm glad they turned it down, good for them.

I concur.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by observer53

very conservative council, several new members. They evidently thought about turning down community development block grants, too. Not taking federal money, even when the money would be good for the city, state (think florida there) is pretty common amongst very conservative office holders looking to appeal to the tea party type constituency.

^^^ that.