Thread: CASA pushes for rent control and set aside construction jobs

For those of you not in Maryland, the purple line is a planned add on to public transportation in the Washington metropolitan area.

CASA pushes for rent control near Purple Line
By: Brian Hughes
Examiner Staff Writer

August 1, 2010 Maryland's largest pro-immigrant group is pushing Montgomery County leaders for laws that would keep rent from rising in a Hispanic enclave in Silver Spring near planned construction of the light rail Purple Line.

In a letter obtained by The Washington Examiner, CASA de Maryland implores Montgomery County Council members to develop affordable housing, along with employment guarantees for minorities that would keep residents in the overwhelmingly Hispanic Long Branch community from being uprooted.

Without protective measures taken by the council, CASA officials say the Purple Line, a light rail route expected to connect Bethesda and New Carrollton, would cause housing prices to soar and essentially displace Long Branch residents.

Among the "demands" issued by CASA: requiring no net loss of existing affordable housing, more local funding to keep housing prices down, and recruitment of minorities and individuals from pre-identified training programs for construction jobs tied to the Purple Line. [bold added]

"Because the Long Branch community is the county's most diverse, displacement in that community would adversely affect the county's level of diversity overall," wrote CASA staff attorney Zorayda Moreira-Smith. "Increase in rent for the existing community is not a viable option."

There are 3,500 apartments in the Long Branch area and more than three-quarters of residents are minority, according to CASA figures. The median household income is nearly $60,000.

Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large, a vocal supporter of rent control, said he also has concerns about displacement but that rent control would require an unrealistic amount of new construction in the area. And he balked at the job demands.

"I'm not interested in tailoring jobs for any one race of workers," he said. "Jobs should go to people who need jobs, period." [bold added]

The council last week approved a functional plan for the Purple Line and trains could start running in 2016.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local ... z0vPIKpRJu

Originally Posted by Watson

...and recruitment of minorities and individuals from pre-identified training programs for construction jobs tied to the Purple Line.

The last thing we need is more "fire the White guy" rules of the type that has already bought so much misery to this country.

This is all so typical of the progressive agenda. Taxpayers funding good paying careers for people who don't even need to be here, working on projects that we probably don't even need.

Look at the median income--I didn't highlight that!

Originally Posted by millere

Originally Posted by Watson

...and recruitment of minorities and individuals from pre-identified training programs for construction jobs tied to the Purple Line.

The last thing we need is more "fire the White guy" rules of the type that has already bought so much misery to this country.

DITTO THAT!

Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large, a vocal supporter of rent control, said he also has concerns about displacement but that rent control would require an unrealistic amount of new construction in the area. And he balked at the job demands.

[quote]"I'm not interested in tailoring jobs for any one race of workers," he said. "Jobs should go to people who need jobs, period."[/quote]

Councilman Marc Elrich agrees!

The Audacity is never ending!

the hell with Casa de maryland. they can not tell anyone that rates on rental or home prices can not go up. its the market that does that.

Originally Posted by Watson

Look at the median income--I didn't highlight that!

I know that's right! When we lived in P.G. county, we were making less than that, both of us together. I wish we had someone who could "dum down" our rent at that time! And made sure to hire us from those "pre-identified training programs" for inflated wages, as well! What nerve! I'd like to get on THAT gravy train - the PURPLE LINE!!