Why does the right want to deny basic human rights to US Citizens?

[DifferentDrummr]

I thought you people were all for democracy? The people have spoken!

And besides, all you would do by repealing prop13 would be to increase poverty and many middle class families and retirees would be drowned under high property values

The main problem with Prop 13 is that it went way overboard. I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water here: just restructure it so that the protection applies only to a household's primary residence. Not to commercial property or vacation homes.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

The main problem with Prop 13 is that it went way overboard. I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water here: just restructure it so that the protection applies only to a household's primary residence. Not to commercial property or vacation homes.

You mean like the kind of commercial property that’s leased out to renters? I’m sure that will ease the affordable housing crisis if property taxes on apartment buildings shot up

 

[DifferentDrummr]

You mean like the kind of commercial property that’s leased out to renters? I’m sure that will ease the affordable housing crisis if property taxes on apartment buildings shot up

Supply and demand doesn't work that way. Landlords can't jack up prices "whenever."

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Supply and demand doesn't work that way. Landlords can't jack up prices "whenever."

They can when leases expire. And in any event it’s not possible to lease property as a business for less then your costs for any length of time. So you’ll either end up with no housing in the lower end of the spectrum at all or you’ll have cities turning blind eyes to slums with absentee landlords.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

They can when leases expire. And in any event it’s not possible to lease property as a business for less then your costs for any length of time. So you’ll either end up with no housing in the lower end of the spectrum at all or you’ll have cities turning blind eyes to slums with absentee landlords.

False dilemma. Cities can build more subsidized housing.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

False dilemma. Cities can build more subsidized housing.

Then what was the point of increasing property taxes in the first place if the end goal was for the city to become the landlord?

 

[DifferentDrummr]

Then what was the point of increasing property taxes in the first place if the end goal was for the city to become the landlord?

Gee. Because the city would have more money to increase the supply of that type of housing? :doh

 

[EMNofSeattle]

Gee. Because the city would have more money to increase the supply of that type of housing? :doh

Well no they wouldn’t. Because now instead of collecting property taxes at a reasonable rate from commercial landlords the city is now legally obligated to maintain property below market cost.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

Well no they wouldn’t. Because now instead of collecting property taxes at a reasonable rate from commercial landlords the city is now legally obligated to maintain property below market cost.

The city still gets higher tax revenue from all other commercial property, you forgot.

 

[EMNofSeattle]

The city still gets higher tax revenue from all other commercial property, you forgot.

Doubtful since most cities are willing to provide massive tax exemptions to big enough companies, so now small and medium sized businesses bearing the brunt of the tax burden. Meaning lower employment and wages and higher prices for goods and services.

 

[DifferentDrummr]

Doubtful since most cities are willing to provide massive tax exemptions to big enough companies, so now small and medium sized businesses bearing the brunt of the tax burden. Meaning lower employment and wages and higher prices for goods and services.

True 30 years ago. Now both the public and private sectors are at last figuring out that it's going to hurt business if they leave housing unplanned and let a crunch accumulate.