Comments for Urban Review STLa critical look at urban planning and related politics in the City of St. Louis and regionComment on How Affordable is Affordable by Craig- September 17, 2008 It's misleading to think that most of the people that work at minimum wage jobs derive all of their income from such jobs. Most of those making minimum wage are part-time workers seeking to supplement their income -- people like students, retirees, and stay-at-home spouses. No one pretends minimum wage is anything one can live on, so it should be irrelevent to the issue of affordable housing. The park ranger example shows just how affordable St. Louis housing is. With a roommate, the park...http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29628 Comment on A Great Morning at Lucas Park by Michael Allen- September 17, 2008 Thank you for sharing this, Steve. I agree with you -- Lucas Park doesn't need a big overhaul, just careful and continued maintenance and a few changes with the playgrounds and trees. (Cypress is not appropriate there, in my opinion.) I am tired of hearing about how that park needs big work while its drains are clogged, leaves aren't raked and so forth. The park infrastructure is solid. Anyone who thinks we need to drop a bunch of money on the park should pause -- if we can't even maintain.http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3928#comment-29627 Comment on How Affordable is Affordable by John Daly- September 17, 2008 Affordable housing becomes increasingly viable when a person can make a firm distinction between wants and needs. And once they resolve to lose the wants then those extra resources can then be allocated to their needs. In addition, some cultures place a strong emphasis on the extended family. If two incomes can go a long way in procuring affordable housing then four incomes would be ideal. Of course, that is a decision each person must wrestle with, its not always easy living with extended...http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29625 Comment on How Affordable is Affordable by northside neighbor- September 17, 2008 There are many ways to look at the issue of affordability. Region vs. region is one way. Your own personal situation is another. The most established way of consideringaffordability is as a function of household income. If you are paying more than 30 percent of your household, then your housing expense is considered unaffordable for you. . Another way to look at the issue is the percentage of a region's residents who can afford the median priced home. As a rule of thumb, most people...http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29623 Comment on How Affordable is Affordable by john- September 17, 2008 Very complex and made more so by a society that subsidizes sprawl. The "30% measure" is necessary to allow enough funds to pay for lifestyles that requires all the costs associated with auto dependencies. Failures in one area inevitably compound problems in other areas. Integrate auto costs into your formula and there is nothing left to pay for food or clothing. Housing is an investment, auto expenses don't produce any wealth. - - Problems are compounded in a city that is losing jobs and...http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29622 Comment on How Affordable is Affordable by Jason- September 17, 2008 What I think I would take away from that is- don't raise minimum wage. I know you didn't exactly say that, but the issue is not how much people make, its how much it costs those people to live reasonably. Raising minimum wage is not the answer. Helping those who are trying to raise families and make a living is. Raising minimum wage just hurts everyone else 8 months later when inflation catches up with you, but the people now affected are the remaining lower and middle class who didn't get.http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29620 Comment on How Affordable is Affordable by Jim Zavist- September 17, 2008 If you're single and making minimum wage, the odds of buying a home are slim, especially with the fallout from the mortgage crisis. But if you're married and both working, or have a partner or even a roommate, and you more than double your income (the utilities don't double), the economics become a lot more doable, especially here. Compare us to that other extreme, Aspen: http:www.denverpost.comnewsheadlinesci_10464107 . I don't disagree that finding "nice" or "nicer" housing is tough if...http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3948#comment-29621 Comment on Looking Ahead To March 3, 2009 by southsider- September 17, 2008 I had some unsupported notion that Lou Reed might be a different sort of pol, then he goes and tries to hire a body guard. Sounds like an out sized ego to me and a disappointment. He won with an exceptionally light turnout. I doubt he can win city wide again.http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3878#comment-29617 Comment on New Motor Scooter Forum for St. Louis Region by Go motor scooters- September 16, 2008 Thats a cool site. But is there enough scooterers in that area to make the forum big We'll have to wait and see.http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3233#comment-29614 Comment on A Great Morning at Lucas Park by Jim Zavist- September 16, 2008 http:step13.org . . . another success storyhttp://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3928#comment-29611 |