We're tackling misconceptions and their problematic implications on Facebook. Find more at www.facebook.com/prairievillage4all. And, take action by writing to the planning commission - details below!
"Prairie Village doesn't need change. The 'rules' in place have worked so far, so they should remain in place." - As touched upon in our last post, the average current Prairie Village homeowner would be priced out if forced to rebuy their home at current market rates, paying over 60% of their income toward housing. According to CNBC, homeowners and renters should pay no more than 30% of their income toward housing because: "The 30% rule is based on how much a family can reasonably spend on housing and still have enough money left over to afford everyday expenses like food and transportation."
Additionally, the city of Prairie Village is almost exclusively white, with between 91-94% of the population identifying as such in census data. Saying that our neighborhoods work right now is saying that this shocking lack of diversity is acceptable, or that we don't need to address it.
For those who like and enjoy what is good about our city - and there's a lot to feel good about - our city will look very different without policy reconsideration. The income brackets that now populate our city are being priced out. And, we need to grow in ways that make what's good available to more people, including more diverse populations. And, without more affordable options on the table, the city will become highly unattainable: a place where working-class people, economically diverse people, racially diverse people, the people who serve our communities, and more can't afford to live.
Write to Staff Liasion to the commission, Nikki Lee, at nlee@pvkansas.com and encourage the planning commission to consider all options on the table. Their charge as a committee is not to respond to public pressure from a minority of residents based on fear, anecdote, or misinformation. Instead, their charge is to make recommendations based on expertise and research that realistically and fully explore the options at hand. Their charge is to investigate all the recommendations from the original proposal without interference, and without being swayed by those who would limit our citizens' ability to have a full, informed, educated discussion based on facts - which will happen during fair and transparent public forums. Don't allow the process to be interfered with.
Join us at www.prairievillage4all.com