May 14, 2005: Headlines: COS - Nicaragua: Housing: Dallas Daily News: Nicaragua RPCV Murray Sanderford opposes proposed low-income housing project
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May 14, 2005: Headlines: COS - Nicaragua: Housing: Dallas Daily News: Nicaragua RPCV Murray Sanderford opposes proposed low-income housing project
Nicaragua RPCV Murray Sanderford opposes proposed low-income housing project
Nicaragua RPCV Murray Sanderford opposes proposed low-income housing project
Not the right area
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed low-income housing project in Wylie.
There are several reasons I believe this project will be detrimental to our community. First, let me say that I have a special place in my heart for the poor and disadvantaged. I spent two years of my life as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua, where I worked every day shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the poorest people on Earth. I have also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Please understand when I say that I have firsthand knowledge of the unique needs of the poor.
Having said this, there are reasons why the residents of the Wylie/Murphy community moved to this area: for its country charm, spacious and affordable lot sizes and homes, and the ability to keep our families safe and secure and away from "big city" problems.
I don't believe our community is prepared for the fallout. I can tell you from long, personal experience that low-income housing brings many burdens our community is ill-prepared for: dramatically higher rates of domestic violence, petty crime such as burglary and theft, and low-level drug dealing.
This will place a heavy burden on our police and emergency services departments, and the citizens will end up with the tax bill.
Last, but certainly not least, there are few jobs for low-income residents within the surrounding community, and public transportation is almost non-existent.
There definitely are places in North Texas that have the infrastructure to support low-income housing, but I do not believe our community is one of those places.
Murray Sanderford, Murphy
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Story Source: Dallas Daily News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Nicaragua; Housing
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