Affortable housing for No one

Here we go again council members and city leaders (I hate using word leader) thinking they are businessmen and have the brains to make big financial decisions. 

The Brady Bunch aka Allentown City Council thinks that raising the city's deed transfer tax by 0.5% will generate enough money to fix or even remotely help the affortable housing problem in the city.

The womans clothing entrepreneur Santo Napoli states this ordinance will help "level the playing field" for future home buyers.

Napoli lets look at the real problems

1. Corporations and LLCs bought 44% of properties sold in 2024.

2. Home prices have risen 63% over 5 years

3. And rent magically matched the percentage of properties bought by LLCs or Corporations at a 44% increase. Which basically targeted mostly low income families.

4. Who really wants to live in Allentown anymore. 

The tax increase will bring in a whopping 3million a year.

Big deal. 3 million. 

Then the Community economic development staff made up of scholars will come up with a plan on how to use the money. Im sure nothing significant will come out of their decision. 

Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Kistler said that staff will use Allentown’s comprehensive housing plan, “Welcome Home Allentown." Possible uses of the money include home rehabilitation programs, affordable housing construction, rental assistance or other initiatives, Kistler said.

Home Rehab programs I would estimate 20-50k a house.

Housing Construction. Um do they realize it costs on average at "Cost" about $200k per row home to build.

Rental assistance may be the best idea, however helping people pay their rent is only going to make the 44% of corporations wealthier.  Not fix the housing problem.

Heres reality:

Do you know the average mortgage on a 200k property? Ita about $1400 a month. Is that really affortable to someone who makes less than 40k a year?

Here is an idea. If the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Ms. Kistler didnt all want top of the line brand new stations/offices the city would have way more money to fix the housing problem.  

Lest not forget Chief Roca's police station is going to cost the tax payers approx. 42million. And the Fire Chief and Kistlers new building another 70million or so. Because there isnt a cheaper location or a cheaper way to build these absolutely needed right now buildings right?  

Fountain park is flat and could house a PD, fire station, and health bureau all in one location. So is the waterfront.  That 130million bond is going to cause major tax increases.  Just wait.  

So before the council vote on things; they should really realize what they are doing and get professional help for things they arent remotely qualified to vote on. 

Some more ideas

Maybe cut 4 girls from the mayors office staff. Thats another 250k. Quit giving raises to all your cabinet. Saves another 100k a year. Get real attorneys vs outsourcing all the bigger cases at 10x the price to outside firms.  

Look at that we are saving money and I barely started. I bet I could easily find 3 million dollars within the city budget the city could save each year.

3 million is a start which but the reality is whatever money the city gets from this proposal will be put into the General Fund and spent on something else.

Someone please help this city.