Letters 07-18-2015

July 16, 2015

Our simple rules: Keep your letter to 300 words or less, send no more than one per month, include your name/address/phone number, and agree to allow us to edit. That’s it. Email info@northernexpress.com and hit send!

Real Facts About Affordable Housing

"The standard definition for affordability is that households should pay no more than 30% of their income for housing, including utilities." Source: U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development

In his "Words of Warning" of July 6th, Thomas Kachadurian uses the debate in Traverse City re "affordable housing" to creatively word-paint the usual antigovernment, conservative screed against"¦ well, practically everything. He liberally applies Libertarian brush strokes to illustrate conservative truisms, and to instruct his fellow affluent (but evidently greatly "deceived") readers how those less fortunate simply don’t need more "failed" and "vaguely defined" programs.

His only backhanded concession (perhaps born of personal experience) to those who would squander his tax dollars on the needs of the poor is: "They have good intentions, but they’re not going to invite low-income people into their own houses." Added to this, he strangely conflates seasonal-and-private market forces relating to tourist accommodations during the Cherry Festival with those ongoing-and-public policy considerations governing housing programs.

What is apparent from his elitist commentary is that he fails to comprehend how each of us experiences the mystical, often business-friendly "invisible hand of the marketplace" differently, and often more favorably than the folks who -- for myriad reasons -- can’t afford the fancy, water-view condos. What is an actual fact across our urban areas is that housing that’s affordable to even the "worthy" working poor is increasingly hard to find, and a real burden to maintain.

It is a truth that most of us know, but -- due perhaps to his poisoned views, or aversion to allowing public servants spend public dollars -- Mr. Kachadurian relates to and defines much differently.

Frank W Hawthorne, Petoskey

Thanks To BATA

I would just like to express my gratitude to BATA and the National Cherry Festival for providing the free shuttle bus to the visitors center from NMC and Thirlby Field. If not for this service my wife would have not been able to attend any of the concerts due to health issues. We managed to make it to all but one. Three generations of our family were represented at the Joan Jett concert and we had an awesome time. This would not have been possible had it not been for BATA and the drivers who donated their time. Hats off to them as well. I just hope that this service will continue in the future. And we got to meet a lot of new people from all over riding the bus!

Jon Rinckey, Traverse City.

Heritage, Not Hate

A few weeks ago, a crazy white boy killed some black folks and suddenly the Confederate Battle flag must be removed from everywhere. That flag is a symbol of historical heritage, not a symbol of hate. Karl Marx once said, "If you can cut people off from their history they can be easily persuaded."

If a crazy black boy guns down some white folks and wraps an American flag around himself, do we do away with that flag? No! Do we do away with guns? No! We use the guns to protect ourselves from all of the other crazy boys. Before the Civil War, there were slaves in the North and the South and the war was not fought over black slavery. "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races. . . and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality." - Abraham Lincoln, debate at Charleston, Illinois on September 18, 1858.

The Civil War was fought to do away with states’ rights so the federal government could be the master over all races on the American plantation, and they still are. The feds just proved this a few weeks ago when they forced all states to accept same sex marriage. If your politicians ban the Confederate flag, then ban your politicians. If NASCAR bans the flag, then ban NASCAR.

Gordon Lee Dean, Benzonia

Housing Problem Is Real

Contrary to columnist Thomas Kachadurian’s belief, affordable housing is not identical to low-income, federally subsidized housing. The latter was directed to inner-city populations of poor, disabled, and elderly Americans. The former targets primarily younger workers and families, particularly service workers and others whose contributions to local economies are necessary to its functioning.

The analogy to availability and price of motel rooms is a poor one. Yes, motels put roofs over people’s heads, as do houses and apartments, but motels are intended for transient occupation. Vacationers who cannot afford the most expensive lodging in a given tourist region during high season do not suffer hardship, and the motels do not miss those who cannot afford their rooms.

Those who work in Traverse City and the surrounding area, whether year-round or seasonally, are in a very different situation. Working people need long-term housing, and the region needs those workers.

Kachadurian claims there is no housing problem in our region, only a wage problem. "If business cannot find people to work for the wages they offer, they need to offer higher wages." How many local businesses could afford to offer wages and salaries equivalent to the income of northern Michigan second-home owners? The idea is ludicrous. Much business in the area will always be seasonal.

If the Grand Traverse area became one big gated community, it’s unlikely that wealthy residents would, like the Amish, provide as many goods and services to one another as possible. They would undoubtedly still want restaurants and hair salons and shops of all kinds, convenient government offices, schools and hospitals, all staffed by friendly, happy personnel.

"If you’re not rich, get out!" A new slogan for northwest Michigan? Hardly, I think, the future we want for the place we call home.

Pamela Grath, Northport

Correction: In last week’s "Roadside Oddities" story, an editing mistake resulted in the listing of Ossineke as being in the Upper Peninsula. It is, in fact, located 12 miles south of Alpena, which is where you can find Ossineke’s own Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, plus Dinosaur Gardens. We apologize for the error.