Seattle

sure. . .that’s about three times what i’m paying on my house. . .which takes up half my retirement. . .

affordable?  not to people worse off than me.

Nickels may be a community leading green mayor but he’s also a developer’s mayor and paul allen’s mayor and a do-little mayor on transit.

I was motivated to write to May Nickels in response to this.  Here’s what I wrote to him:

"I do not believe $1115 in rent a month is "Affordable housing." 

The fact that there are many well to do business people in Seattle should not put a shadow over the Childcare professionals, construction workers, educators, and Administrative Assistants who make less than 40K a year.  If they had to pay $1115 a month it would most certainly be well over 30% of their income. 

Are you trying to turn Seattle into an elitist community, or what?"

If you feel the same way, you should email important officials too.

I always heard that rent or housing shoud be 25% of your salary. That $1115 a month works out to a salary of $53520 a year. They must be rich in Seattle if low income singles (because it’s a studio apartment) are making over $53000 a year. Based on a 40 hour week that works out to $25.48/hour.

I live on Social Security only. My income is less than $900 a month. HUD gives we senior citizens a place to live at 30% of income after medical expenses. Try it sometime. Going to the bathroom on a regular basis is our form of joy.

Don Jones

I think I heard someone call the crane the official bird of Seattle.

See http://www.crosscut.com/real-estate/12205/Skyline%2C 2008/

endentured housitude to the fascist bankers