Quote:
Originally Posted by Table 5
I'm also looking forward to the day when the city starts rewarding people who live in the inner city a little more. I know it always comes down to money, but at some point, I'd love for neighborhoods to get a more reasonable share of what they put in to the coffers (kind of like how Albertans always say they put in more than they get back nationally). If we're paying higher property taxes (mine went up by about 20%), I'd like to think it's not just going towards placating some schmuck in Silverado who want his street cleared of snow every 30 minutes. Mo bike paths, mo street cars, mo frequent busses!
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I'm specifically not looking forward to the city catering to the inner city. I know that this will fall on deaf ears here, but I might have some time today, so I figured I'll make this argument.
First, the issue of people paying more taxes (and "more than their fair share") is cute. I feel for you. Thing is that a) you knew that or ought to have before you decided to buy there and b) you issue is with the market value tax system and not with how the spending is completed. If the tax system was based on square footage,lot size or just split evenly regardless of where you are in the city then everything would be fine. In other words, the issue here isn't really urban sprawl, but its a matter of ,disliking the tax system as it is. That's fine, but call it what it is.
Second, I dislike the notion that "schmucks" like me (your term here, not mine) who don't live in the inner city are some how being placated with inner city money. Those of us in the suburbs aren't receiving any special treatment. Most of the things we demand from the city are pretty basic; a traffic system so that we can get to work and be productive, a reasonable infrastructure so that we can go to the ice rink, library, golf courses or other amenities. Our transit needs aren't even all that different.
I picked your post to quote here Table, but I just picked you non-specifically, particularly for my next comment. I am tiring of the seeming elitist attitude of people in the inner city. I get that there are some advantages to living inner city, but there are also advantages to the suburbs.