Marden: The affordable housing scam
Letter to the editor
Affordable housing is the latest in a long line of government schemes to control not just the less fortunate, but the affluent as well. How? Simple. When government takes from one people-group to give to another, it controls both — because, in the end, government is force.
The government’s ability to take by force of regulation or threat is very real. Case in point: we see this in the very real outcomes of the progressive property tax policies. Quite evident, as well, was the mania leading up to our government-created 2008 housing bubble. Artificially low interest rates and easy lending practices distorted markets, causing a frenzy, and the collateral damage is still being felt.
In Liberty and Property, Ludwig von Mises shows that political freedom is impossible without private ownership. Giving people homes, even homes below market, distorts the value, security, and upward mobility of families. Mises goes on to warn that socialism, by abolishing private property, leads to economic collapse and political tyranny. Mises defends capitalism as the only system compatible with liberty, prosperity, and peace.
Recently, the Gainesville City Commission posted about their new affordable housing project with Bright Community Trust. This 12-home project is really a trap for would-be “homeowners.” Politicians get to boast about all their good deeds to help the less fortunate, but they are actually harming them. See the 2008 housing bubble.
The fall-out of the 2008 housing bubble demonstrated that giving people homes they cannot afford forms a straight line to bankruptcy and credit ruination. But as long as the politicians get their photo ops, they really don’t care, do they?
Complicating and exacerbating this situation more is the Gainesville City Commission, which proactively drives up the costs of homes through zoning requirements, regulatory pressures, and agenda-driven mandates like green energy appliances.
They compound the effects further when the Commission takes land out of supply through land conservation and trust schemes — schemes that often give the land donor lifetime use of the property without paying any more property taxes. This drives up the cost of available land through basic economic principles: when supply goes down, prices go up. How rich of those do-good politicians!
Like the war on poverty and the war on drugs, the war on housing will produce the same endless loop, generation after generation. The government is not truly trying to solve the problem; they are trying to perpetuate it by artificially creating an endless need for themselves in the eyes of uninformed voters who are never told the whole story. Said another way, the scientists are creating the housing disease and the cure in the same lab. Willfully. Affordable housing is a drug and should only be advertised in similar fashion as those coming from Big Pharma, with a full disclosure of the very damning side-effects.
Tim Marden, Mayor of Newberry
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NYC has had housing socialism for decades. Now look at the prices!
The solution is private ownership for the occupant, not just landlords or other investors. It should start right out of high school, credit ratings should favor grads and GEDs. Whether sole occupants or couples, group homes or friends from school, etc. As long as they agree to live there and not rent it out.
Where are all of these people coming from that ‘live’ here? The huge amount of cheap osb frame structures erected in no time are for who? It ain’t the UF students, they stick close to campus and undergrad enrollment has not increased much over the past 20 years. Who is filling up these things and where are they getting the money for $2,200 per month rates? Do they have 6-8 people splitting the rent in a 3/2 apartment like a hotel?
1. OSB is the structural equivalent of plywood and no more susceptible to water damage than plywood.The roof deck on my house and 95% of those built in hurricane conscious Florida , both less expensive and McMansions are OSB.
2. UF enrollment continues to increase, as does it’s research funding – at least until now – and with it capital and jobs which attract non-university people. It’s an economic engine.
3. Gainesville’s medical institutions continue to grow and employ more people than UF. These are also a magnet for retirees and other older citizens who want to be in proximity to top notch medical resources.
4. An article I read over 20 years ago noted that the typical student enrolled at Big State U comes from a well off family , especially when compared to those who were here in the 60s-70s. Not all, but many UF students can afford to live in The Standard and drive a nicer car than you.
Your item 4. I remember when the shift started happening here where student cars were nicer than those of the profs.
Another shift was a majority of in-state students having Bright Futures scholarships that covered everything.
Their parents cars, on their parents’ insurance, buying gas with their parents’ credit cards.
What a way to live.
I have no problem with his personal opinions, but it is totally improper to sign it under his political seal for a jurisdiction not even connected to his diatribe.
He did not sign it that way (he didn’t specify how it should be signed.) I added that for transparency.
As I posted on FB, I did not but realize there is always the association anyway and therefore I embrace it. FYI, the 1st Amendment still applies whether I have a title or not.
If I agree with the mayor or not he is
(at least) not hiding. He believes in his position. I respect that.
One of the first truths we encounter is the saying, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” This principle highlights Mr. Tim Marden’s message about the necessity for affordable housing in our communities. In the final financial summary, it becomes evident that someone is covering the costs, and that someone is always us, the taxpayers. Ultimately, this unsustainable model cannot maintain itself and will eventually collapse.
Marden fails to recognize the benefits of investments by government which are not avaiable elsewhere and which do lift all boats. The classic of course is the GI BIll passed after WWII that essentially created our modern middle class, while public education, our land grant universities, and investments in medical and scientific research are why we lead the world in both areas and benefit all humans.
Marden is pressing small thinking on the alter of “I don’t want to pay taxes”.
I’m happy to publicly debate you on the virtues of capitalism v socialism if you’d like. Using our real names. How’s that whole public education thing working out here in Alachua County? We have an entire 3rd grade class who can not read. The GI Bill artificially infused cash into the money supply that drove up inflation. Just like the Feds continue to do by taking over the student loan program. This in turn drives up costs. How does that help the middle class? It doesn’t. It didn’t create the middle class either. I just don’t believe we should be forced to pay for things that hurt people. Why do you?
Tell me you’ve never read “Basic Economics” without telling me you’ve never read “Basic Economics.”
No Thomas, I haven’t read “Basic Economics” but I have been making payroll for 40+ years now.
How about you?
I’d be happy to debate you publicly, using our real names, on the virtues of capitalism vs. socialism.
Tim, your primary mistake is thinking that there is one simple answer that solves our problems. Marxists made the same mistake, back when that was a thing.
As it is, in fact, the most successful economies – and nations – in the world practice capitalism with socialism. Even China does. In their case they dropped Marxism but embraced capitalism and China, Inc socialism.
Think about it.
Maggot Moron Marden is NOTHING BUT A LYING HYPOCRITE.
STEP DOWN.
YOU DO NOT DESERVE TOO BE IN OFFICE AND STOP SHOWING UP AT DEMONSTRATIONS !
YOU R SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE A🤣 MAYOR !
YAH RIGHT !
HYPOCRITE !!!
Now THERE’S a compelling, fact-filled argument.
“They compound the effects further when the Commission takes land out of supply through land conservation and trust schemes — schemes that often give the land donor lifetime use of the property without paying any more property taxes.” ~ I’ve been saying that for years. Glad you mentioned it, maybe it will garner more attention. Those Wild Spaces & Public Spaces taxes are double taxation on most residents – they’re just too gullible to realize it.
The Commissions talk with forked tongues and are able to sell snake oil to the ignorant…continually.
Go down to Miami, where nature is a luxury good, available only for those who live in multi-million dollar homes. That is the first reason I support Wild Spaces: once it’s paved over, it’s gone
The second reason is the fact that this county lacks the infrastructure to support a higher rate of building and they aren’t in any hurry to fix or expand the infrastructure we have now.
The perfect example is the schools. They haven’t been able to rezone for more than 20 years because they don’t have enough seats in the Western half of the county and families understandably don’t want to return to busing. ACPS hasn’t built a high school since 1975 even though the population has tripled since then. Roads are also a mess and inadequate for the building we have now. Thus, I’m fine with Wild Spaces.
Been to Miami many times. Those multi-millionaires pay their multi-millionaire property taxes, unlike many around here who look for the County to provide a buffer, (those conservation easements), to protect their enclaves.
Still others in Alachua County, knowing the hoops of restrictions they have to jump through to potentially develop their property instead sell it. No one is paving over the banks of the Santa Fe River. No one is paving over Lochloosa Lake.
Thanks to the aforementioned easements, no one will be paving over properties adjacent to some “wedding venues.” Don’t forget that prime piece of real estate between Alachua and Newberry Rd that was deeded over to UF. Since you brought up roads, explain how the roads in adjoining counties, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy are in better shape than Alachua County’s. Maybe they’re better with their tax revenues than Alachua is.
Schools haven’t been rezoned in 2 decades. Not because they didn’t need it, it’s because the SBAC didn’t want to deal with it. They’ve kicked that down those roads that need repairs and maintenance so don’t be so naive.
Good homework piece would be to determine how much property tax revenue has come off the books over the past 10 – 15 years and correlate it to how much individual property tax rates have risen for the average homeowner.
When are you moving You voted? Plenty of more congested unnatural places in Florida where you’d be happier. Not sure your taxes – or blood pressure – would be lower.
They don’t want to deal with it because they dropped the ball when they refused to request impact fees from developers for 30 plus years and now they would have to rezone some families away from their nearby zoned schools eastward, which will have an adverse impact on their property values as well as inconceiviencing families. They force it through, they will get a lot of anger as well as losing even more students.
As for Miami, if you don’t live in the Gables or Pinecrest or a few other uber pricy areas, then you live in a concrete jungle which is ugly as heck. Miami should be the cautionary tale of what happens when there is too much development westward when the main employers are eastward without proper infrastructure
An hour to go 8 miles is the norm.
At least Miami built schools to match development and located their academic magnets in easily accessible schools
Much to most of land conservation is on land that is not amenable to development, but if it were, would increase pollution of our springs and acquifer and air quality, and if practiced across the state and nationally, much bigger problems. This land is also not typically amenabe to agriculture – as if there was much of that left in Alachua ounty anyway – and replaces the green swaths of agriculture that used to thrive here.
Lastly, dollars to donuts, most in Alachua County want these conservation lands, and if not for their own recreational use – they are typically open to all and are often beautiful spots of quiet jungles – for the benefits I’ve listed above, but including the pleasure of driving through places like the tongue of San Felasco – a state preserve – as it crosses Millhopper before I-75. If we have something unique in our part of Florida it is these beautiful wooded and wet lands. If you don’t like it, move to a more crowded unnatural part of the state. And before you throw around judgements like “ignorant”, demonstrate that you have thoroughly considered the issues, which in this case you have not.
Taxes wouldn’t be lower, we’re well aware of that, especially given our commissions. Thanks for worrying about my BP, runs about 118/68 lately.
Those fortunate enough to own large parcels that are deemed undevelopable shouldn’t be bailed out by taxpayers either. As mentioned, not all of those properties are incapable of development simply because of natural causes but because of legislature led restrictions.
I’d disagree on the land not being amenable to agriculture. Alachua County used to have huge parcels of agriculture, from watermelons to tobacco. Farmers decided it was easier, and more financially beneficial to their legacies to sell the land and let another entity develop. Sons & daughters in today’s world don’t want the hassle or the upkeep of maintaining hundreds of acres of property.
While most, myself included, do enjoy the outdoors, I hate the taxes that will come and rise to foot the bill for the continued purchase, and maintenance, (which the County hasn’t the capability), of lands by the County or the State. I don’t see myself being an exclusive member of that club. You’ve mentioned yourself how certain groups are likely to bear the brunt of elevated living costs, think those people will be immune? How many may find themselves having to decide on paying taxes or buying food? I guess that’ll be about the time you can ask them, “when are you moving?”
How much more property should government own? Isn’t it about 25% now? They sure haven’t been purchasing it at bargain prices either. Bottom line is, they have enough already. Maybe they, property owners, could deed some of the land over to the needy and contractors could volunteer time and materials to construct those homes that are so needed with the stipulation the new owners will be responsible for the property taxes and associated home ownership costs.
Nah, that’ll never happen. Many in Alachua County have discovered it’s nice to have theirs and they’ll do what they can to make sure nobody else encroaches it.
Nice try, but your explanation of the 2008 housing bubble and subsequent market crash is BS.
The vast majority of failures were mortgages written by private mortgage companies which were not under FDC or CRA rules. Many of these companies crashed afterward including the giant Countrywide. In fact CRA loans – which were a smal part of the bubble – out performed the market because it had regulated qualifications for acquiring a mortgage. Further, almost 1/2 of failed subprimes mortgages were purchased by speculators.
The compounding event, which made a serious but not killer crisis into an international crash was the new practice by our capitalist geniuses of bundling these hot private mortgage loans into investment packages to be bought and sold on Wall Street.
Your theories on the crime of taxes would of course end government, but hey, you’re a John Birch Society “national officer” What do we expect? But get your facts straight.
The “capitalist geniuses” were definitely a large part of the problem but let’s not forget about the s0¢i@list geniuses that were just as guilty. Government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collapsed in the same spectacular fashion. Contrary to your statement, mortgage backed securities were not unique to capitalist institutions.
Whether state-owned or privately-owned they all still do the bidding of the international reptilian bankers.
Anything is ‘affordable’ to the gubment as long as we keep paying for this nonsense.
One of the best docu-dramas about the 2008 economic crisis and bursting of the housing bubble was The Big Short. Yes, there is a lot of blame to go around, but its just as important to understand the role private banks, corporate greed and the government all played. Watch this movie for a forewarning of what happened and what can happen now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgqG3ITMv1Q
Margin Call is a better mivie
Go away. You’ve bottched up enough around here already.
You’re one of those ultra- hypocrites.
Release the “great guy, a lot of fun” Epstein files, MAGA hypocrites!
Same guy that keeps raising taxes and fees in Newberry???
Y’all love to criticize the city and county commission about all the money put into public places. But the reason you are living here is because it isn’t Dade/Broward/Palm Beach counties. It is because of the public places in this area that are so beautiful. Humans need nature. I’d rather my tax dollars are spread out to upkeep things that would have gone to developers.
They’re not making a park on that parcel off University Ave and developers will make plenty off that 14 story complex.
Excellent and correct.
Unscrupulous lenders ie capitalist created the housing bubble. Deregulation of the banking industry, repeal of the Glass-Stengal act, allowed greediness and profit taking by corporations and big business interests. Don’t be fulled by Marden…he wants to get rid of social security and Medicare. Stop his foolish nonsense.
YES, THANK YOU GUEST, JAZZY & SUSAN.
STFU, Marden bootlicking maggot.
WE THE GOOD PEOPLE ALL HATE YOU !