His latest efforts to charge a tax based on vehicle type will hit low income people hardest. Low income, retired or fixed income people are least likely to be able to afford a new fuel efficient car.
The new tax would replace slumping revenue collected through the state's gas tax. Rising fuel costs have lured drivers from their cars while the increased popularity of gas-efficient vehicles has cut back on the number of trips drivers make to the pumps.
All of this is based on his personal belief in global warming and not what the city elected him to do once in office. He should try fighting crime instead of Global Warming.
seattlest.com
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels either loves condos or he hates renters. The Mayor's Office has indefinitely frozen a $350,000 fund created to compensate Seattle area renters who'd been forced out of housing due to condo-conversions. Mayor Nickels wants to wait and see if the legislature passes a statewide bail-out funded by developers this winter. Because it makes perfect sense to rely on the people who are profiting most off of Seattle renter's misery.
If you're a Seattle renter, like we are, you've probably been forced out of at least one great home or apartment, only to watch a townhome or condo sprout up in its place. Since 2004, Seattle has lost over 6,000 rental units to condo-conversion. Had the fund not been put on hold, it would have provided up to $1500 cash to ease the cost of moving for tenants who made less than 30% of the city's median income. There would have been smaller cash amounts available to help displaced renters who made between 31-80% of the median income.
While, the cities Human Services Department spokesperson Sara Levin said, "we're only on hold for the next few weeks," local affordable housing advocates have already expressed their displeasure with the Mayor's plan. Seattle housing advocate John Fox had this to say:
"We worked our butts off to get the money in the first place and that he would take it out of (the hands of) tenants like that is absolutely outrageous."
Also none too pleased? The City Council, who was not informed of the Mayor's decision to halt funding. Councilmember Tim Burgess, who is chair of the Council's Human Services Committee, has asked for at least $50,000 to be released from the fund to help families displaced in January and February.
Does the mayor's halting of funds affect you? Have you lost a home or apartment to condo-conversion? |
