What better way to encourage the creation of so-called "affordable" housing than to impose an onerous tax on new construction? While that approach might appear counterproductive, it's exactly how the Philadelphia City Council has chosen to try to alleviate the city's affordable housing crisis. Instead of easing restrictive zoning laws, the city council has proposed a 1% tax on new construction that council members say will finance affordable housing elsewhere. It brings to mind an employment tax recently passed by the Seattle City Council with a similar goal of providing more services to the city's homeless (whose numbers will no doubt expand as more jobs are eliminated).
Opponents of the tax have criticized it as "ill conceived", arguing that it could make life more difficult for developers and end the "impressive run" of new construction that is helping transform some of the city's grittier neighborhoods. John Dougherty, a union leader who heads the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, said the tax "makes zero sense," according to Plan Philly.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
6 comments:
Taxation is the new slavery.
One must remember that this country came to be due to excessive taxation!
The curse of success, more taxes to pay for thug housing, which in 20 years will have to be rebuilt again. Affordable housing is nothing but a breeding ground for THUGS.
Democrats sure ain't gettin no smarter.
Wait and see the tax Maryland is brewing to fund the pension shortfall.
Inner city gentrification is forcing more poor into the suburbs. Most cities industries now are tech or health care related and the rest service or retail jobs. Only the most successful can afford the climbing property values and taxes. Soon the cities will be like feudal castles.Bastions of the elite with suburbs becoming the taxed indentured living in little tracks of glorified slave quarters always beholding to what jobs or industry that gets tossed to them as crumbs from the table. We see it here. There is little future for anyone here unless they are in the mix with development and speculation and even that now is proving futile.
Post a Comment