Seattle homeowers, what do you think of this?

[bergun]

The sad thing about this tax increase is that in the next 3-5 years, NOTHING will change in Seattle... Period. The homeless issue will still be an issue with very little to no change. What is "more of the same," which hasn't worked, to this point, really going to do? The answer is "nothing."


Also, how much of this tax increase is going to be used to cover the administrative costs for this homeless project and the other feel good "special" projects that the city council.


Keep voting "YES" on all the tax increases in Seattle and see what happens to the average working class family.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by CityWok

The homeless problem is much more complicated than simply finding rooms for people. Much of the psychology of homelessness can be explained by the economic theory of exchange and competition. The homeless will extract as much money from the civic environment as possible, and are doing so in Seattle. The citizens of Seattle must understand that homelessness is an economic game masquerading as altruism before any solution can be considered.

"Free" benefits are a curse to both the patron and the recipient.

If anything, "benefits", and funding for low-income housing, jobs programs, mental health, etc., have been slashed, while tuition has skyrocketed, over the last 25 years. I really doubt that a pad in a shelter is a draw - more that we're getting California's overflow. Surveys have shown that most homeless here are from here. Many were knocked down by the Great Recession, with the jobs they had not having come back.

I've never heard so many rationalizations for screwing people while they're down. How are Trump voters going to react when they get a slap-down, rather than a hand-up?

[mspkiddo]

Why doesn't the city embrace what other major cities have done and let builders develop high rises. For example why is there a 6-7 story cap (or something like that) in Cap Hill?

[bergun]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

...I've never heard so many rationalizations for screwing people while they're down. How are Trump voters going to react when they get a slap-down, rather than a hand-up?

How did this become a "Trump voters" issue when he or Washington D.C. has nothing to do with either raising or lowering local property taxes? I was pretty much following what you were saying until you threw out that hightly subjective statement without any real facts to back it up.

I believe in helping the needy and "I" do volunteer some of my limited free time in helping the homeless here in Seattle, in a very hands-on manner, requiring face to face contact. I'm also very aware of the drug, alcohol and the mental issues that many of them have and how that severely hampers many of them from gaining the needed life skills to function within a society... Including finding/keeping employment and living in a residential setting, which isn't as easy as it sounds for many of them who are suffering from one or more of the above problems.

Again, there isn't a simple fix to this growing issue the city is facing, but IMHO, raising taxes AND "hiding" them from the public view isn't going to solve this complex problem either, just another temporary "band-aid" fix. By not fully engaging the homeless to "assist" and at the same time and not holding them partly "responsible" for their own reintegration back into a functioning socitiy is nothing more than a waste of more tax payer's money... The super rich and the Upper-upper middle class can absorb this tax increase, but for many of the lower middle class working families, another tax increase is very painful on their already overstretched and limited budgets.

Btw, every time "life" has "slapped me down," over the last 50 plus years, I readjusted and got the hell back up and continued to move forward in "life," which wasn't that easy all the time, but it can be done. Yes, I know we all can't do this, but for many, it can be done.

I could be wrong with this, but being "responsible" isn't a Repubilican or Democrat thing, it's an individual responsibility... Nothing more. Nothing less.

[october2007]

You all should check out Safe Seattle on Facebook if you haven't already done so, for real discussion and facts about this problem and others facing Seattle. More money isn't the solution and there is real lack of accountability with the funds already spent.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by bergun

How did this become a "Trump voters" issue when he or Washington D.C. has nothing to do with either raising or lowering local property taxes? I was pretty much following what you were saying until you threw out that hightly subjective statement without any real facts to back it up.

I believe in helping the needy and "I" do volunteer some of my limited free time in helping the homeless here in Seattle, in a very hands-on manner, requiring face to face contact. I'm also very aware of the drug, alcohol and the mental issues that many of them have and how that severely hampers many of them from gaining the needed life skills to function within a society... Including finding/keeping employment and living in a residential setting, which isn't as easy as it sounds for many of them who are suffering from one or more of the above problems.

Again, there isn't a simple fix to this growing issue the city is facing, but IMHO, raising taxes AND "hiding" them from the public view isn't going to solve this complex problem either, just another temporary "band-aid" fix. By not fully engaging the homeless to "assist" and at the same time and not holding them partly "responsible" for their own reintegration back into a functioning socitiy is nothing more than a waste of more tax payer's money... The super rich and the Upper-upper middle class can absorb this tax increase, but for many of the lower middle class working families, another tax increase is very painful on their already overstretched and limited budgets.

Btw, every time "life" has "slapped me down," over the last 50 plus years, I readjusted and got the hell back up and continued to move forward in "life," which wasn't that easy all the time, but it can be done. Yes, I know we all can't do this, but for many, it can be done.

I could be wrong with this, but being "responsible" isn't a Repubilican or Democrat thing, it's an individual responsibility... Nothing more. Nothing less.

Because Trump's budget, if approved, will slap-down many who voted for him. Health care should be a right, not a "benefit".

I'm entirely for a carrot-and-stick approach. I'm for hiring more police, so all crimes are investigated and laws enforced (including illegal camping). People committing petty non-violent crimes due to an addiction, however, should get a chance to get treated and turn their life around; people with untreated mental health needs, should get therapy, meds, and a chance to be stabilized. That, even including housing while getting themselves straight, is actually much less costly than trying, convicting, and jailing them, over and over again. If they refuse treatment or therapy, and continue to commit crimes, however, throw the book at them.