I am beyond outraged at the latest example of Vancouver bending the knee to big developers in our city (“Vancouver approves property tax exemption on waterfront apartment complex,” The Columbian, Jan. 25). A tax exemption amounting to almost $3 million has been granted to the developer of the Broadstone Apartments on the waterfront.
A studio apartment will rent for $1,864 a month, about $20 less than the market rate. What? They get a huge tax exemption to save a renter $20? This is not “affordable housing.”
The average Social Security benefit is $1,614 a month (Center on Budget and Policies Priorities). Again only the “comfortably” placed will be able to rent there. The person whose sole source of income is their Social Security will be living on the streets.
One needs a monthly income of $3,364 to live in Clark County. (Living Wage calculator, https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/53011).
