Editoraial in NYT Lamenting that Seattle is pricing out its slackers

[RustinginSeattle]

Treuphax, you mention that the older folk reaped the benefits of rising housing prices, but you have to understand that is only true if they sell and move away from the area. Otherwise, their imaginary money just sits in their house.

Not everyone wants to sell and move away. They may have family and a lifetime of connections here and not want to move. In that case, they are justified in their complaints. Instead they just have to pay higher taxes and suffer the crowds and traffic.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by treuphax

I also wouldn't be able to live in Ballard either unless I had a subsidized home. So I don't. What I'd really like is something waterfront, perhaps in the south of France, but that's not in the cards either. It's the rough south side for me.

Try Westport, Ocean Shores, or Moclips...

Regarding subsidized housing, it's a privilege of good fortune just as random and scarce as trust fund inheritances. Waiting lists are enormous as demand vastly exceeds supply. Count your blessings, dear Ballard neighbor.

So, you think that seniors who can't afford bubble-inflated rents should be thrown out in the cold?

For seniors, subsidized apartments are more available than you think (even in Westport). The ones getting shorted are the non-senior disabled, who face a lottery and very long waiting lists. Once the Boomers hit retirement full force, it'll be the same for them.

A city filled only with brogrammers would be a very dreary place indeed.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by RustinginSeattle

Treuphax, you mention that the older folk reaped the benefits of rising housing prices, but you have to understand that is only true if they sell and move away from the area. Otherwise, their imaginary money just sits in their house.

Not everyone wants to sell and move away. They may have family and a lifetime of connections here and not want to move. In that case, they are justified in their complaints. Instead they just have to pay higher taxes and suffer the crowds and traffic.

The lack of police services, skyrocketing property crime, drugs and violent bush and van dwellers is quickly changing long term residents desire to stay in Seattle. And that's really the point of letting these problems get as far out of control as they have.

[carroll4628]

Originally Posted by RustinginSeattle

Treuphax, you mention that the older folk reaped the benefits of rising housing prices, but you have to understand that is only true if they sell and move away from the area. Otherwise, their imaginary money just sits in their house..

Not necessarily. There's a reason there are so many "Reverse Mortgage" mailings in my mailbox. If you have 400% equity in your home (i.e., you bought it for $100k and it's now $400k), there are refinancing options to get some of the money back out of your home. Not always a smart financial move for some, but if the options are leaving the equity for your heirs or being able to afford to live day to day...

[509]

The author of the piece is Tim Egan who I believe lives in Seattle.

Egan, use to be a decent writer, I guess when his writing skills went downhill he was forced to take a job with the New York Times. Wow, it must be the pits to get old and ruin your reputation by working for the New York Times just for the money.

It must be hard to find a job with a reputable newspaper this days!!

[daberkow]

Originally Posted by mkarch

The lack of police services, skyrocketing property crime, drugs and violent bush and van dwellers is quickly changing long term residents desire to stay in Seattle. And that's really the point of letting these problems get as far out of control as they have.

It's also affecting short timers as well- we lost two people within 18 months of moving here for these reasons at work.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by daberkow

It's also affecting short timers as well- we lost two people within 18 months of moving here for these reasons at work.

You're saying they actually quit their jobs because of these problems? Has it gotten to that level of insanity?

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by 509

The author of the piece is Tim Egan who I believe lives in Seattle.

Egan, use to be a decent writer, I guess when his writing skills went downhill he was forced to take a job with the New York Times. Wow, it must be the pits to get old and ruin your reputation by working for the New York Times just for the money.

It must be hard to find a job with a reputable newspaper this days!!

He lives in a lake washington view home in one of the neighborhoods not afflicted with the current problems. He's 30-45 minutes from Ballard, probably never makes it up here to see what is going on. May as well not be in the same Seattle if he thinks slackers are being priced out. Maybe they are priced out of his lake facing neighborhood? The marina down the street from his house may be free of drug camps, but the one down the street from mine is full of needles, stolen goods and half dead drug addicts.

[phoenixmike11]

A more positive view of Seattle from the NY Times about Seattle's growing role in the world of non-profits

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/09/us...tionfront&_r=0