A letter from an Oroville resident on the cost of regulation on housing refers to a study conducted and paid for by the National Association of Homebuilders. That says it all. To confine the letter to the impact of the cost of increased regulation would have been sufficient. But, the letter adopts another subject: homelessness. Apples and oranges.
It is easy for a border town in corth central Washington to look both east and west to see homelessness, then point the finger and blame regulations when the community of Oroville really has no problem of homelessness on the scope of the major cities.
Additionally, Oroville is in a red county electing Republicans to the state Legislature. The GOP has a record of targeting homelessness by blaming Democrats, liberals and progressives for a problem the GOP is not sympathetic to. That does not mean, of course, individuals don’t care, but support of the Republican agenda has favored regulations that up the cost of building homes passed on to buyers and many, who are homeless, aren’t even in the market.
Housing costs in Oroville are up 34 percent over a year ago. Median price for a home there is $274,900. How would a homeless person live in Oroville? Ask builder there how many low income houses they have built or how they could help to ease the homelessness in Oroville by taking some from elsewhere and caring for them there.
My, that would create jobs, but no Republican wants jobs, do they?
Sam Bess
Stanwood
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