To the editor,
McClure Engineering, who now employs Zack Mannheimer, are back at the trough asking for more money to do a “housing plan”. $93000 has already been squandered on “Vision 2020” planning which produced not one useful, feasible idea. Why would anyone consider hiring these people again? Lutz’s main message was that they “needed to be paid” and would now “execute”. I call that complete nonsense, money for nothing. Fortunately, the supervisors seem skeptical.
As far as housing goes, the board should not even consider loaning developers money. If they can’t get loans from a bank it means that the banks are pretty sure the project will be a failure. Why should the taxpayer shoulder the risk? There is no such thing as “affordable housing”. Building an apartment complex is expensive and the landlord needs to make money. Thus, rents will likely be quite high. I don’t think there are many who can afford it. If a developer is confident that building a complex will be profitable then let him do it without a loan from the taxpayer.
Secondly: while I agree that the current animal shelter is inadequate, there is no way that “Kitty” needs a 1.3 million dollar, 3600 sq. ft. facility. Even if the money could be raised the city and county are going to be burdened with high ongoing expenses and maintenance of a large building. To meet the animals’ basic needs and provide a decent working space, wouldn’t half a million or less suffice? We don’t need the “Dog Majal”.
Sincerely,
Bruce Banister, Jefferson
