I’ve been reading the letters from fellow citizens concerned about the recent 9 percent property tax rate increase. I feel that we should speak up rather than just sit idly by as our elected council imposes what many agree to be an ill-timed, ill-advised action that comes at a time when the economy is still fragile with many still unemployed and trying to build up their reserves. I was surprised that this move was made unanimously save for Mayor Silberberg and since then, I have spoken to many people from millennials and unemployed baby boomers, to retirees to try to gauge their opinions. All of us are trying to get a leg up in what is already a very expensive city when considering rent, utilities, food, fuel, education, insurance and so forth. Several of the retirees lamented their displeasure at the increase and wondered how much longer they would be able to stay here, sadly suggesting they might have to move to a lower priced locale. Likewise, some of the young adults and families also decried the increase and stated they’re finding it difficult if not impossible to afford a place to buy in this city. Finally, my unemployed baby boomer friends who have not had steady work in years, are worried that they too may have to leave. It seems that we are steadily becoming a city with the wealthy at the top, a shrinking middle class and a lower class being squeezed out. Without a hefty income, who can afford to live, much less buy in such a desirable area as this?
I pose several questions to the entire council: Is this the kind of city we want in the future? I fear that those very people who may have supported the council are the ones who will suffer the most — the service workers and blue collar workers who really power this city. We stand to lose the diversity that makes this city so interesting and vibrant today, much like what is happening in some big cities in California where people cannot afford to live in the city where they work. Did the council consider the impact to those who are usually unable or unwilling to voice their displeasure? They are the ones who will be driven out, further south and west, making their lives harder as they have to commute further and longer to be able to afford to live. Finally, what about the unforeseen consequences to the business sector?
Certainly we all understand that it costs to live in a modern city with all the concomitant amenities and we are willing to ante up, but at the cost of alienating an entire class of people who can little afford it just does not make sense.
However, this is not the end of the difficulty, for as those who are taxed further will find it harder to come up with disposable income to spend at businesses in the city, causing more hardship for our already beleaguered business sector. Every time I ride my bike up and down King Street I see shuttered businesses, and this I fear will increase. Are we also going to drive more businesses out of the city?
We believe that the council did an incredibly poor job of justifying such a large tax increase in light of some of the expensive line items that may or may not be of value to us. Perhaps the city should try like most families do and balance our budgets and work within the confines of available funds as a fiscally responsible city and make hard decisions about what is necessary and what can be deferred.
The council would do well to listen to the many concerned voices of its citizens, as it seems that they are out of touch with many of its citizens and I fear may have repercussions into the future.
Rudolf M. Rojas
Alexandria