Governing has an interesting article about three ways in which local government can make our communities more affordable. First, it suggests ways that zoning can be used to make housing less expensive. Second, it proposes ways of making mass transit or alternative transportation more attractive. Third, it argues that utility costs can be reduced through efficiency-enhanced technology. While all three of these paths are worth pursuing, I'd like to focus on transportation.
We spend a lot of money on transportation. In 2023, U.S. households spent an average $13,174 for transportation, making it the second-largest per annum household expenditure after housing. Unfortunately, the state legislature refused to go along with Governor Josh Shapiro's request to increase the amount of money spent on mass transit. But this is where local governments can step in to reduce the amount of money we spend to drive. Reducing that amount by 25% would save families $3,200 a year.
First, county government should continue its investment in trail infrastructure. Though most people use these trails for fitness or pleasure, they are also commuting routes. I use trails as part of my commute to the courthouse when weather permits and see plenty of others who do so as well.
Second, county and municipal government should focus on remote work opportunities for public servants who do not interact personally with the public. Human Services workers, for example, should be trained and encouraged to work at least part of their time from home.
Third, county and municipal government should offer a bonus to workers who are unable to work remotely but reside within 10 miles of their workplace.
Fourth, county and municipal government should implement bike share programs where you can rent a bike or an ebike at a reasonable fee and then return after use to any of strategically place hubs. Philly uses Indego at a cost of $4 a month, with ebikes costing 7 cents a minute more. During the cold months, you can drive. But during the eight months of the year that you can regularly ride, this can save a lot of money for groceries or a home.
Finally, county and local government should invest more in mass transit. Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to bus people, but the best way to change that is to start using it. Where I live, the buses come by less frequently than in Bethlehem or Easton. But I can drive or cycle to Walmart, and from there can pretty much go wherever I want. I am sure we all could make better use of mass transit and should be encouraged to do so.
Stop taxing like crazy spending on many things not needed and look out for the fraud which is happening no doubt.
ReplyDeleteIf your ride consists of going from any walmart to a transit center in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, you're golden. If your ride is from any walmart to your neighborhood, be prepared to walk at least a bunch of blocks with your purchases, to your home. For instance, no stops from south 3rd street transit center in Easton to the top of the hill at 6th and Northampton if you don't live downtown,.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though many of you are extremely negative and look for reasons to do nothing and then complain nothing is being done. Like I said, I could DRIVE or CYCLE from my residence to Walmart, and from there take a bus where I need to be. You seem to have missed that part.
DeleteThese suggestions are cute, and remind me of bailing water from the Titanic. Private equity owns housing. A five-bank cabal owns the Fed. Both are major contributors to party politics and lean heavily Democratic. Trump has been killed for criticizing the Fed. He spoke out against Black Rock and the silence from both parties was deafening. The powers that be have the housing/apartment market EXACTLY where they want it. Scarcity brings higher prices. They like scarcity. They like higher prices.
ReplyDeleteDo you realize just how condescending you are? Also, you are not addressing the focus of this story, which is what local government can do about transportation.
DeleteThe title of your dispatch speaks of affordability. You focus on transportation. That pales in comparison to how unaffordable mortgages and rent are.
DeleteIn the very first paragraph of this story, I said my focus would be transportation. It does not "pale" in comparison to housing. It is right up there with it.
DeleteJust heard on the radio LANTA is cancelling routes due to a fuel shortage of natural gas for their environmentally friendly vehicles. Remember when we could depend on good old diesel to get us where we were going? And ya think government will make good choices concerning our public transport needs?
ReplyDeleteThe shortage is temporary and is caused by the extreme cold. Good old diesel???? Do you realize how hard it is to start a diesel in the cold? I realize the fuel is better than it used to be but still gels up in the cold.
DeleteSpoken like a true leftist. Just throw money at the problem.
ReplyDeleteUm, using a bike share involves no money throwing by the government. Encouraging you to use a bike or ebike involves no government $.
Deletepipe dreams
ReplyDeleteThis might be the dumbest article you ever wrote.
ReplyDeleteFirst, you're proposing that the most wasteful sector on earth - government - is the solution to making things more affordable. That's the most asinine solution to an "affordability" problem ever.
Next, you chide the state legislature for not putting even MORE money into mass transportation, the bulk of which was meant to prop up the woefully mismanaged SEPTA system around Philly. Thank God the legislature stopped that money grab, or we'd be paying more to cover the waste and fraud there.
Reality is that mass transit really doesn't work. The charges for use are too low, thus requiring massive subsidies from the rest of us. Proponents might want to force more people onto the system, but people have already made their choices. Most don't want to walk to and then stand at a cold bus stop hoping that the bus shows up and would rather hop in the personal vehicles at their own convenience.
And trails? Yeah, that's realistic. You go ahead and break the snow and ice for the rest of us on your trails and then carry our groceries back like a penguin waddling on the ice. Besides the elements, most of us don't have the time to waste when we have to be somewhere.
Next you advocate for remote work opportunities. We all should have seen the scam that this was during the covid shutdowns. The same amount of work simply doesn't get done.
So how can government actually help the affordability problem? It's pretty simple.
#1: Trim government to the essentials only. For homeowners, one of the biggest parts of their mortgage payment is the monthly escrow payment, which includes property taxes. By cutting the size of local government, you can reduce taxes which would make home ownership more affordable. And that includes renters also, since landlords pass on these costs to their tenants.
#2: Reduce funding for mass transit. How many empty buses do we have to pass before we realize this is not efficient? And I just heard that LANTA is cutting back on routes right now, because the geniuses at LANTA bought a bunch of buses that run on natural gas, and now the gas company is cutting back on the amounts they can use because of demand. But guess what's still abundantly available, now at a lower cost thanks to the new President? That's right, gasoline and diesel.
#3: While we're talking about mass transit using natural gas, guess what is helping to raise the price of natural gas? That's right, it's usage by governmental entities like LANTA using more and more of it. So that's another instance of government making things more UNaffordable for people.
I'll stop my points there and leave you with one last thought. We all know the saying that 'When you're in a hole, the first thing you need to do is stop digging'. Government overreach creates many of our problems, and (other than cutting the taxes they charge us) it is the last place we should be looking to make things more affordable.
Your glass is obviously half empty. Must be hard to go through life with a negative mindset
DeleteSorry to drop a bit of reality on your immature fantasy
DeleteSchools are out of control they spend like there is no tomorrow Everybody knows property taxes are most unfair tax in our country yet the majority of these school board people do not care or they are stupid.
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with the topic
Delete@9:19am Bernie: If you're near the Walter House on Locust St., come get me in your car or your bike and take us ( me, my leg braces, and my walker) to Walmart. Should be quicker and warmer than the bus, right?
ReplyDeletePretty hard to do when you don't say who you are, right? And by the way, I often give rides to seniors or disabled who need to go to the store when I have time. I just did so yesterday and twice last week.
DeleteBest way for local governments to assist with affordability is to lower taxes. Local municipal taxes should be for critical infrastructure support only. This means public safety, streets, and basic government functions. Also reduce government labor force. For instance, Allentown's Mayor office for decades consisted of the mayor, a chief of staff (since the Dadonna years) and 2 secretaries. Now it is bloated with several additional, unnecessary employees.
ReplyDeleteThe other way is to eliminate school real estate taxes. Increase the state sales tax by 2%. The money collected is divided by the number of school children in public schools. The state then provides each school district with a dollar per student. The school districts must then operate within this budget. No longer be able to add other taxes.
School taxes can’t be eliminated as long as school districts have bonds to pay off. I don’t know how the canard about eliminating them gets passed off as logical.
DeleteJeff Ward, Bethlehem
Senator Fake Indian going to lecture me about affordability. She represents the highest cost of living state in the country. Mass, CA, NY, NJ, CT, Illinois ect. Don’t do what those states did. One party rule. Very high taxes, over regulation, huge government overreach, now their battle cry is “affordability” it’s laughable!
ReplyDeleteA great man once said, “ The 10 most dangerous words one can hear is: I am from the government and ai am here to help.”
ReplyDelete