Thanks to Woodland Mayor Will Finn for his July 29 letter, “Who benefits from housing project?”
Before U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell spoke to the media about how great the tax credit hikes are for Woodland, she should have observed Lilac Place from my business. When Lilac Place was built, Woodland lost good commercial property, which would have paid much-needed property taxes. There was no dog park built or smoking area provided.
Now, I watch from my business as dogs do their business anywhere a Lilac tenant takes them, and loitering has become prevalent as they smoke their cigarettes in the surrounding areas. Crime in the area has also increased with this new low-income housing.
I am a lifelong Woodland resident and longtime business owner. I pay my taxes, like all other hard-working business owners are required to do. Why do we continue to let developers be exempt from paying their share of the property taxes? Who does this help? It certainly doesn’t help Woodland.
These tax credits do not go where they should; they do not help the housing crises. Stop letting developers build low-income housing, not pay taxes, and move on to the next tax-free project. That’s why the rich are getting richer.
