Some homeowners south of San Antonio’s downtown fear they will lose their homes after becoming aware of the increasing property values in their neighborhood. Apparently, the appraisal amounts for several houses along Lone Star Boulevard south of downtown SA have jumped 70% to 90% in value in five years.
A WOAI radio news report in 2016 showed the average San Antonio taxpayer owes $3300 toward the city’s long term debt as the municipal debt balloons. Couple that with school district, college district, health district, county, state and federal taxes and fees. This municipal money is for the maintenance of basic government services like, fire and police and streets and sidewalks.
But it is also for pet political projects like painting crosswalks rainbow colors, duplicating pre-k school programs, and developing plans for light rail that has repeatedly been turned by the taxpayers/voters. Taxpayers have to pay for all of this city spending through taxes and fees.
What’s interesting is that the same people who claim to support “the poor” are the ones who have allied themselves with developers to “gentrify” neighborhoods. Liberal politicians love to “spread the wealth”, but somehow they never eradicated poverty while developers who donate to their election seem to prosper.
Liberals also seem to concentrate on fixing neighborhoods, but not people’s behavior or the life skills which would lift them out of the poverty. They never address the culture of poverty, but rather prefer fix the person’s environment.
It is apparent the worth of a parcel of land is greater than the worth of person to liberals. When a neighborhood is gentrified, the property becomes more valuable and it generates more revenue through taxes for the government…and liberals control the government and its spending.
It is also interesting how the local new media does not connect the tax-and-spend behavior and consequential raise in property taxes, directly to specific frivolous and unnecessary projects like light rail, painting crosswalks, statues and public toilets.
SA recently elected the most liberal mayor and city council in its history. Their agenda will be more tax-and-spend with a focus on global issues like tying local transportation solutions to global climate change, and funding the defense of illegal aliens with city money.
Private property ownership, whether it is a shack or a mansion, is what has made America great because “a man’s home is his castle”. Any public policy that undermines or hinders a citizen’s ability’s to create personal wealth by owning private property is un-American.
It is sad that the SA city council districts that suffers or are targeted for gentrification, (excuse me, “redevelopment”) consistently vote for some of the most liberal public officials in the city, county, and state. Taxpayers/voters need to become aware of this fact.
Wake up San Antonio! The defense of freedom, liberty and property rights starts in your backyard with your vote. Conservative advocacy groups should focus local neighborhood issues like the rise in local taxes to hold elected official as city hall accountable…or to replace them.