MFTE

This was sent to me today. I don’t know if enough people are talking about this. I’ve seen my parents property taxes go up so much in the last 5-10 years and I am sure it is because of the MFTE program, which I’m actually ok with paying taxes, I just want to be sure that the programs they are paying for do good for my community. I can’t afford market rent in Seattle, but I wrk in leasing, and am familiar with the program because I live in one, and while I think the intention of the program is good, what the owners are trying to do to it is such a waste and just so bad. We say we are a liberal city, but when it comes to money we aren’t… I’ve heard that this mayor has a lot of friends who are building owners, and he is letting them drive most of the legislation around the program. The owners won’t let us get better training or staff us the way we need, because they don’t even really want low income people in their buildings. The program isn’t hard to manage, people just need to know what they are doing. The owners just want high rents, which I get, you have to get income to run a business, but if my retired parents are paying for this program with their taxes, I want the program to make sure people who can’t afford market rent in the city can have a program like this to help afford to live where they work. Or the city needs to just do the income verification and charge the owners to participate to make sure people actually qualify for the program so it’s easier on owners. Otherwise the program just needs to go away for a while.