A group of techies is using data skills to alter Seattle's housing affordability

Re:A group of techies is using data skills to alter Seattle'... by moultano on Friday April 27, 2018 @05:21PM (#16944434)

So police, teachers, firefighters, gardeners, construction workers, tradesmen, who work in a community and commute from outside it shouldn't have a say in the policies of the community? Most bay area cities don't have any of those people living locally anymore.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/08/25/cops-living-in-r...

https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2018/03/08/school-district-con...

When your city cannot house the people required for its basic functioning, its government is broken.

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Re:A group of techies is using data skills to alter Seattle'... by toomuchtodo on Friday April 27, 2018 @06:09PM (#16944845)

I agree with you that it's a problem. The solution is to find equitable ways to provide housing to those workers in the city where they should have a stake. Providing commuters a voice is a (pardon my language) shitty hack and ignores the underlying issue (wealth/income inequality in a constrained geographic region).

I would not be against subsidized housing (both rentals and coops where you acquire ownership interest) that is means/income tested, to fend off speculators, foreign investors, and high income/net worth individuals from soaking up all the housing stock.

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Re:A group of techies is using data skills to alter Seattle'... by moultano on Friday April 27, 2018 @06:16PM (#16944890)

I'm confused both by your proposal, and your resistance to this one. Commuters and "people with less wealth who have a stake in the community" are exactly the same group of people. What other criteria would you use?

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Re:A group of techies is using data skills to alter Seattle'... by toomuchtodo on Friday April 27, 2018 @06:28PM (#16944945)

I think we're talking past each other. Mind if I email you to continue the discussion?

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