While luxury housing is rubber-stamped, Ludlow rejects low-income units

Everybody knows that in northern Kentucky, each new housing development is rubber-stamped by elected officials or zoning boards - without exception.

The only exception of course is low-income housing.

Whenever some developer proposes luxury housing - from urban lofts to rural subdivisions - our public officials can't break ground fast enough to please themselves. But this story out of Ludlow proves that the rules are different if there's any sign that this housing might serve residents of normal economic means.

Recently, a mixed-use building was proposed for Ludlow. Reportedly, about 70% of its apartments would be reserved for people of limited income. I was skeptical that this pledge was for real, but I'll give it the benefit of a doubt for now. Even so, this regulation was slated to last for only a limited time.

But even this modest proposal has just been shot down by Ludlow City Council.

One council member inquired, "Do we need a 72-unit affordable housing project at the gateway to the city?" Actually, yes. America is suffering its worst housing crisis ever - largely because of the unchecked rubber-stamping of luxury projects.

Nobody in the media asked Ludlow officials why they have this double standard. The press seems to just assume that the policy of rejecting low-income residents should stand on its own.

Why?

This is contrary to the values our parents and grandparents taught us in our day. And it's not a problem we can just bubble away.

This double standard isn't limited to Ludlow. Not long ago, a developer announced its plan to convert a Bellevue industrial building into apartments. The Tea Party reportedly circulated flyers urging folks to fight it on the grounds that it would be a low-income development. When it was revealed that it would be luxury apartments instead, the right-wing protests suddenly halted, and the city rubber-stamped the plan.

Why?

All my life, I've lived reasonably close to homes for both the rich and the poor. It's not the poor areas that have been responsible for most of the crime.

We shouldn't be afraid to say public officials' double standard is classist. It's a shame the media never seems to acknowledge such classism. The real mystery is why this inconsistency seemed to gain so much mainstream acceptance. Not only is it an injustice, but I've never been able to figure out the logic behind it.

(Source: http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2018/08/06/city-shoots-down-72-unit-ludlow-yards-development)