Dear Billy T and Somerville Speakup Line,
When they purchased their homes do you think it wasn’t difficult ? My father purchased his home in 1975 – worked 3 jobs to afford his home and raise his 6 children – paid his taxes – mortgage – ridiculous water bills with added fees – for 43 years now !
Never getting rich off of rents ( typically renting to family ) there are many just like him – so if he were to decide to sell his home the city or anyone else should make money off his hard work over past 43 years ??
Where is all the money from developers over past 10 years ( the ones who truly are getting rich ) ? Where are all of those affordable units from assembly that were promised prior to the city playing Monty Hall and let’s make a deal ?
I’m all for affordability- I’m not for screwing the hardworking homeowners of this city .
Patricia Farrell Brosnahan
If property taxes continue to increase as they have along with other operating expenses the rents will have to increase. If the rents cannot cover the operating costs they will be sold off as condos (& be owner occupied / rarely rented) which will reduce rentals within the city.
What percent of the alders own and rent to middle and low income people? If they don’t have skin in the game how can they understand what they are trying to legislate?
We assume neither
Would this new source of funds be used to create city jobs or housing?
Well said Patricia. Couldn’t agree with you more. Stop punishing the people that stayed in the City through bad and good.
We should demand full transparency on tax revenues of all properties in Somerville and force all home and property owners to pay their true assessed values and pay full amount of taxes owed. Look up the lowered assessed values for yourself to see how for years, out of town, not owner occupied property owners have been getting huge discounts on their taxes. I’m sure they are among the owners who make regular campaign donations. Demand an audit of all financial transactions. It’s the only way to expose what’s going on.