Letters 12-22-2014

Dec. 21, 2014

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Affordable Housing Alternatives

In Scott Hardy’s opinion piece in the December 15 edition, he offered six concrete ideas to address the ongoing community discussion about increasing affordable in-town housing in Traverse City. He acknowledged that the extensive research on this topic consistently tells us that we need to build more, affordable, housing units close to where people work. The new units should be part of another development, and the builder/developer (versus government) should build and pay for them. He notes that these requirements, together with aesthetic requirements, make it hard to attract the needed investors to make this happen.

An additional suggestion that Mr. Hardy did not mention, but which meets all these requirements, is increasing the opportunity for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the close-in neighborhoods of Traverse City. ADUs close to downtown and commercial areas increase housing close to where people work and recreate. They’re built and funded by homeowners, who also have a vested interest in ensuring they are aesthetically appropriate. Neighbors’ concerns about disruption are mitigated because the homeowner–who shares their driveway, yard, or wall with their ADU residents– has a personal stake in keeping the peace. Creating more opportunity for ADUs also brings potential for new investment, with increases in property values and our tax base. And it allows homeowners to offset the high expense of in-town living. Moreover, ADUs do not require extending infrastructure or developing environmentally sensitive or developmentally marginal areas.

Traverse City can increase the opportunity for ADUs in the close-in neighborhoods by expanding the current ADU district beyond the Traverse Heights neighborhood. This alone will not solve the issue, but it is a simple, low-cost and reasonable response to the well-studied issue of how to increase affordable in-town housing.

Tracy (TJ) Andrews, Traverse City

Powerful Homeless Event

Homelessness is far more complex than we thought. "Everyone Has a Story–Sit and Share Our Bench" was a wondrous performance Sunday, December 7, that opened my eyes to a wide range of experiences with homelessness, bridging the gap between "us and them." The event was based on this semester’s workshop, organized by Susan Odgers, Melissa Sprenkle and Michael Anderson and funded by an Innovation Grant from the NMC Foundation,

Workshop participants offered their insights into homelessness through stories, dance, and song. I was educated and entertained by the creative program of voices from the writing workshop. Some are currently homeless (for example, living in a car); some are Northwestern Michigan College students who have (and have not) had that experience themselves. Some are financially secure now with stories of a moment in their lives when they were homeless in some respect.

Awareness changes simply with the term "experiencing homelessness," for instance, rather than the label "homeless." Whether you have personal experience with this issue or it seems distant from your life, remember that we are in the middle of the worst economic stress since the Great Depression of the 1930s. "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" will never be the same, as Randy performed "I’ll Be Homeless for Christmas" in his gentle, pure voice.

Bonnie Spanier, Traverse City

Long-Lasting Effects of Measles

I understand several cases of measles have occurred in Traverse City. I also became aware that in Michigan, persons are three times less likely to be immunized.

Let me share some information.

"Measles is very contagious. When infected people cough or sneeze, droplets spray into the air and can remain active and contagious for two hours. Once a common childhood disease, it is now rare due to effective immunizations in developed countries. Although usually a mild illness in children, it can be fatal to children and adults with weak immune systems." Johns Hopkins

"When a woman is infected with the rubella virus early in pregnancy, she has a 90% chance of passing the virus on to her fetus. This can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or severe birth defects known as CRS. Children with CRS can suffer hearing impairments, eye and heart defects and other lifelong disabilities, including autism, diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction – many of which require costly therapy, surgeries and other expensive care." World Health Organization.

I had the measles at age two. It destroyed hearing in both ears; I cannot hear without a hearing aid. Such loss of hearing can impact a child’s education, self-esteem and direction in life. I learned that a fetus could be rendered deaf, blind, retarded and more.

If you are concerned about side effects of immunizations on your children, discuss this with your pediatrician. If you are pregnant and might become exposed to someone with measles, tell your doctor.

Karen Martin, Cheboygan

Changing The Electoral College

Republicans are thinking about changing how Michigan allocates Electoral College votes. Michigan, like all but two states, gives all of its electoral votes to the statewide winner of the popular vote. Republicans, noting that Republican presidential candidates don’t often win the state, want their candidate to come away with at least a few of those precious electoral votes, and are looking for ways to make that happen. Why should the winner get ALL those votes? Let’s give SOME to the loser. Seems fair, doesn’t it? Well, it would be, IF they first persuade states that generally vote for Republican presidential candidates–for example, southern states, particularly Texas–to do the same proportional allocation of electoral votes. Otherwise, it’s nothing but "Gimme some of your stuff, but keep your hands off mine," a profoundly antidemocratic scheme for a minority to win presidential elections.

This is an attack on the basic and traditional structure of our election system, and the fact that Republicans are even considering it should give all citizens pause for thought.

Ron Tschudy, Central Lake