Kushlan letter: Star recall

The NIMBYism response that has led to the recall election in Star is an opportunity for reflection about the lack of public policy related to workforce and affordable housing. Who do the citizens behind this effort think mow their lawns, clean their houses, and even fight their fires and teach their children? And how is it that they have no sense of responsibility to provide housing for the people that serve them? Why should only some cities like Wilder, Parma and Garden City be the location for the region’s affordable housing? And what impact does this exclusivity in land-use policies have on our traffic, air pollution and quality of life? It is time for a regional discussion and education about workforce and affordable housing, and for all communities who are served by working people to take responsibility for providing housing for them. How we manage our land-use policies is really important, and the recall in Star should be a wake-up call for all our civic leaders.

This story was originally published September 9, 2017 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Kushlan letter: Star recall."