More affordable housing to cost City $10 million a year (Pittsburgh: 2015, rental)

[tyovan4]

Pittsburgh should raise at least $10 million a year in public money to provide more affordable housing for low-income residents, a report released Tuesday contends.

Mayor Bill Peduto said “providing affordable housing to all is likely the most pressing challenge we have.”

City Council created the Affordable Housing Task Force in February 2015 in response to soaring rental rates in neighborhoods such as East Liberty, where development is booming.

The task force will present its 45-page report to Council on Wednesday.

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More affordable housing for low-income residents to cost Pittsburgh $10 million a year | TribLIVE

Will be interesting to read the report in full, hopefully it will be publicly available tomorrow.
Will be extremely interesting to see how the proposed referendum plays out.

[szug-bot]

maybe they can raise a few million by requiring school district employees to live in the city, as the police are required to do.

then, they can collect on unpaid taxes by those owners of dilapidated properties.

i would be open to hearing all sides of the issue, but my gut instinct has me opposed to a tax increase as described in this article (above). Is one needed, when the city government can fine tune its productivity and resourcefulness at getting what it is due already.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

maybe they can raise a few million by requiring school district employees to live in the city, as the police are required to do.

then, they can collect on unpaid taxes by those owners of dilapidated properties.

i would be open to hearing all sides of the issue, but my gut instinct has me opposed to a tax increase as described in this article (above). Is one needed, when the city government can fine tune its productivity and resourcefulness at getting what it is due already.

Better chance of stopping corruption and wasteful spending...but they did just raise an extra $10m on parking.

[SuburbanPioneer]

This is not a bad idea as new housing projects within the city limits will help preventing the crime from spreading out and into inner suburbs.

[Goinback2011]

Aren't we importing refugees who require ''affordable housing''?

[sskink]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

This is not a bad idea as new housing projects within the city limits will help preventing the crime from spreading out and into inner suburbs.

If that's the benefit, then you're suggesting there should be a county tax.

[SuburbanPioneer]

No, this is just a beneficial side effect. The real benefit is to the city in the form of affordable housing. The need that is very evident from many discussions on here regarding rising rental prices in the city. I'd let the city take care of it.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by sskink

If that's the benefit, then you're suggesting there should be a county tax.

I agree, and then a state tax (because why concentrate refugees in the city). If housing is a concern in Pittsburgh, its a concern in Pennsylvania and should be taxed across the state. After all, if we're not adding them to Scranton's depressed population, Scranton should be happy and help house them in Pittsburgh.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by SuburbanPioneer

No, this is just a beneficial side effect. The real benefit is to the city in the form of affordable housing. The need that is very evident from many discussions on here regarding rising rental prices in the city. I'd let the city take care of it.

Then why did they tear down Terrace Village and St. Clair Village? Those were viable housing projects and the city eliminated them...

[SuburbanPioneer]

Because even those less fortunate deserve a little remodeling every now and again. Besides, such rebuilding adds jobs, helps the economy and improves voting results.