Seems we have a City Council in Kokomo that is deaf. They just approved a tax payer subsidized housing development for 3109 W Sycamore St in Kokomo over the objections of large numbers of remonstrators who have shown up at more than one meeting to voice opinions. But did the Council listen? Nope. They voted to charge on to establish more and more subsidized housing in our community in areas where folks simply to not want it…..or maybe do not want more and more tax payer subsidized housing in any of Kokomo; period.
Earlier I wrote the Tribune a letter to say it is time to stop. It is time to stop at least long enough to take inventory of how many total rental units exist within Kokomo city limits. Then how many are subsidized housing units. The final piece of information needed to make a wise decision is how many units are currently occupied and how many are vacant for each full market and subsidized units. This should be reported to the public openly and completely. There should be no movement until then.
I have the uneasy feeling Kokomo has many vacant housing units; both apartment style and houses. I have the uneasy feeling that some of the powers-that-be want to create a magnet of housing to encourage movement into Kokomo from outside of our area. This is particularly true for subsidized housing. There are already rampant rumors that the draw is for folks from far and wide.
Kokomo’s goal should be to have minimal subsidized housing. Yes, there needs to be an adequate availability for Kokomo citizens who really need that type of support. But, the truth is Kokomo should spend its resources on building jobs for citizens so they can afford market rate housing; not subsidized housing. That is where resources should be focused.
All of the citizens of Kokomo need the answers to the questions. All of the citizens of Kokomo need to have a say in the direction our community is taking. Clearly, the City Council thinks otherwise. It seems to have become community dictators rather than community listeners and leaders following the will of the people. What a shame.