Comments

1
the Austin Lounge Lizards wrote a song about somebody named "Blevins" - maybe this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qWXCYKq…
2
I burned those horrid "democracy" vouchers. Our founding fathers are turning in their graves.
3
@2 Only because you needed to be a protestant, land owning white male to vote back then

"... who has raised $129,000 in vouchers"
Well that's a pretty obvious reason for him to be on the side of vouchers, he's just another politician working for his own self interest.

"(Renters, of course, also pay property taxes.)"
No they don't, they pay rent.

" Landlords sure seem nervous."
I think anyone would if a fellow running for office wanted to be able to force you to house felons. Speaking of which, someone should run for office with the exact slogan of forcing John Grant to house the homeless and to transfer his mortgage away from Wells Fargo
4
@3:

The recent notification I got from my landlord informing me that my rent was going up by $100 starting in August specifically noted this was in-part to cover increased property taxes.

So, yes, we renters DO in fact pay property taxes...
5
@3: And the increased rent helps to pay for the increased landlord's property taxes as all taxes on business are eventually paid by the consumer.
6
@4 You said it yourself, "I got from my landlord informing me that my RENT was going up..."

Sorry, but unless you're paying the taxes directly its RENT. Although it is nice to see democracy in action, all the renters vote for more property taxes and are shocked when RENT prices go up.
7
Real democracy scares the hell out of the money people. What will they do when they can no longer buy politicians?
10
I am of the dreaded "landlord" class. You may be very confidant that the tenants in my units are property tax payers. The money may briefly roll through my business accounts, but it finds its way to King County in very short order. The idea that non-property owners are somehow lesser citizens has been long left behind us. Except, apparently, for some very backward people.
11
@6:

I never said I was "shocked" by the rent increase; in point of fact I fully expected it given the property tax increases approved during the last election - for which I voted in favor, BTW. But, the idea that "rent" =/= payment of property taxes, when it's obvious beyond dispute that landlords roll those into the amount they charge renters is simply ludicrous. I suppose you would also argue I don't pay for the water and garbage/recycling costs my landlord adds to the amount of my rent?

See, here's how it works: if my landlord charges ME for something, so HE doesn't have to pay it out of his own pocket, then HE isn't paying it - I am.
12
@9:

My wife has lived in our apartment for nearly 10 years. According to her, in that time the only things my landlord has upgraded or replaced was a $400 water heater (which I helped him R&R last summer) and about $800 to replace the back deck that was rotting from the weather. Beyond that, the only other maintenance he's done was to blow out the heating ducts last fall, so we'll call that another $500 just for shits-and-giggles. In the 2 1/2 years I've lived there, I've spent about the same amount on painting, plumbing and appliance repairs, and small maintenance jobs I wouldn't even think to bother him with. So, I'm pretty sure we've more made up for his outlays with the roughly $135,000 we've paid to him over the past decade.
14
@11 No, garbage/water/sewer is itemized and added to the rent, so that's clearly separate. Does your bill also break down exactly what the rest of the rent is used for?
15
@14:

As a matter of fact, it does exactly that under the terms of our lease agreement, which includes a specific reference to "Operating Costs", and which lists things like: operation, maintenance, repairs, insurance, water, sewer, garbage & recycling and other utilities, AND taxes and assessments.
17
There are serious problems with the Democracy Voucher program and Grant seems to be ignoring them. I've talked to a couple of candidates who feel that the requirements are a burden and that only a candidate who already has money or a powerful organization behind him can make use of them. They are definitely not a way to equalize rich and poor candidates or to "get money out of politics."
.
Read more on my blog, here: http://roominate.com/blog/2017/democracy…
18
I wish I could take them to a casino.
19
@16:

I would certainly like to do that, but the entry into the current iteration of the landed gentry is just too steep. With the average home price around here shooting up into the high six-figures, the only capital asset I have to even come close to meeting the standard 15-20% buy-in for a home would be if I cashed out my 401-K, but then I'd take a 25% tax hit on that, plus have to pay it back in addition to the mortgage. And without any rich, geriatric relatives to kick in roughly $100K for the down payment, it's just not going to happen in this market. Perhaps in a few years, if we decide to head for the hills, maybe I could afford a few acres of undeveloped property somewhere in the hinterlands, but that's the best I could hope for in the current economic climate.
20
Someone should let poor Jon know that his political base won't vote for a straight white guy.
21
Jon Grant just won my vouchers!!!
Their lawsuit is going to backfire!!
Greed SUCKS!
22
Jon Grant is too far left. He won't see anything from a landlords perspective. Landlords run a business and provide a good service - we are not the bad guys - we are good people.
23
@12 What about the mortgage? Property Taxes? License fees for Seattle? Inspection Fees?
24
Just because you raised a war chest from democracy vouchers doesn't mean you will be a good representative for all of Seattle. As a seattle city council rep you need to think of what is good for all seattle residents not just renters. I don't think people who are staunchly in favor of representing a single group of people will make good Seattle City Council Representatives.
25
Property taxes are regressive; like all of WA state's taxes.
Today's working class not only pays high rent (only partly driven by property taxes; more affected by market scarcity and high incomes), we then count coup on them as they are forced to move farther away from work, with one of the highest gas taxes in the country.
Meanwhile, young high income earners, who are largely responsible for the inflated rental market, pay relatively little tax in comparison; especially when reflected as a ratio of their income.
Income tax; and a reduction in all the others, is the only equitable solution.

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