Apr. 30, 2002 - 21:27 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

End Of Spin

Often when personal matters press too hard and I need to back off, quit worrying and relax a bit I turn to the newspaper - vowing to read only the good stuff. But somethings reach out and say, "Hey, look at what xxxxxx did." Then begins the trek through mud, blood and crud.

Seems like Washington or who ever holds the reins at any given moment, is contemplating splitting INS into two separate entities more or less admin and enforcement and junking the INS name to boot. Now that looks to me like it will be a reenactment of the Keystone Kops. It looks to me that our INS committed some grave boo-boos, but why not just sit on the existing department and insist that things be corrected immediately. It also seems to me that splitting it into two entities would entail so much more paperwork back and forth and it looks to me that the whole thing is set up to promote fueding by the two arms (or left feet).

Sometimes if two sides are against something it is either bad or good or maybe a bit of both. Our city coucil is considering passing an ordinance on housing. It would require developers to include low-cost housing in large developments. The proposal requires that developers offer 10 per cent of units in large developments for sale to working-class buyers: individuals earning about $33,000 annually and families earning about $55,000. In return for building the lower-priced units, builders would receive $5,000 cash for each home or condo built. (Now will that multiple $5,000 be transferred out of our pockets into the developers bags ? They (the developers) would also receive a break on parking requirements or the number of overall units allowed in the development.

Union leaders and non-profit groups are for it saying that it is critical to working-class families.

The measure is fiercely opposed by a number of groups Including Downtown Denver Partnership, METROPOLITAN HOME BUILDERS OF DENVER AND APARTMENT DEVELOPERS. (MY CAPS).

I hate to say anything about union leaders but it is obvious to me they are favoring those single persons earning $33,000 and couples earning over $55,000 per year. Of course they are considering the people in trades who work for union scale and have forgotten those who no matter how hard they try cannot come close to earning that much.

Developers ? MONEY, MONEY, MONEY loss of their gun in the gut robbery.

The proposal is designed to generate homes priced from $115,000 to $180,000. The burger pushers and broom weilders don't come anywhere close to making that kind of money nor do many other hard working people bring in that kind of pelf. Condos ? What working class stiff like I used to be could afford that ? Especially considering the additional charges to each resident for common area maintenance.

And lastly the whole thing is a bit late. Lowry Field where lowcost housing was supposed to be built seems to have a slight to none chance as the biggies are approaching the north end. There was a small area on Lowry Air Base that housed families, maybe non-coms with families and such like -- maybe even officers and their families. Somehow they disappeard and big things have been built there. For a long time if a person knew where they were he could spot them in between the biggies being built closer to the street and later they could not be seen, period. The old housing west of Quebec is still there and being used as low cost housing but cannot, I think, come close to any damn ten per cent. So maybe it is too late on the Lowry front. How goes it at former Stapleton International, vacated when Tent City (DIA) was built ? At the north end much commercial building is taking place, Wal Mart, Home Base yadda, yadda. There are a few high cost houses to be seen there and what looks like some condos. If the developers follow the plans made by the city there will be some low cost housing there -- if luck holds, then someone earning $33,000 a year possibly could afford to live there. Why on earth should I doubt that ? ? ? ? ?

Nowadays often when the layoff comes the ex-employee and his family go walk-about homeless. And it is much the same the world over, the whole thing reminds me of a top wobbling at its End Of Spin . . . . . .

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