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Housing Perks for Margate Workers
Thursday,
March 5, 2009
Margate city staff proposed to commissioners Wednesday night that $200,000 in grant monies coming from the federal government be used to subsidize housing for Margate employees and for those working in city special districts, such as the Hospital District and CRA.
“Districts that benefit of the city,” said Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella, adding that other cities are doing it and it seems to be working.
The main tenet of the idea is to aid Margate workers in purchasing foreclosed homes within the city’s CRA district, accomplishing three things: boosting opportunity for people to live closer to where they work; restoring blighted homes in the CRA district and attracting more disposable income to Margate business.
One resident, who might not have thoroughly understood staff’s idea, thought that enabling poverty in Margate wasn’t a good thing. Others whose interest was piqued included Commissioner, Dave McClean, who quickly removed himself from discussing the issue, declaring that in the future he may want to participate in the program himself.
Long-time Margate Commissioner Joe Varsallone didn’t object to the idea, but was concerned over Fair Housing legalities and discrimination. Varsallone promptly instructed the city attorney to look into potential road blocks.
The subsidy idea is presently in the concept stage. City staff said they’re going to refine the plan and bring it back to the commission at a later date.
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