Somewhat tonque in cheek. Somewhat serious.
It is clearly shown that when gay people start moving into a depressed neighborhood, the revitalization of the neighborhood begins. It would seem that a smart thing for government to do would then offer tax incentives for gay people to move into particular locations to get those locations on the path to revitalization.
Now since you don't want people to undergo gay or straight tests (what ever that could ever be) to prove their sexual identity, what the incentives could be for is for people who fit the profiles of those gay urban pioneers. Ie If is found that the gay urban pioneers are of a particular age range, economic level, etc and etc, target the incentives to people who fits those profiles.
The same is said for artists, so do the same for them.
5/28/06 Update:
One of the commenters referenced a 2005 newspaper article onthe subject. I forgot that I already had posted an article on that then, http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/08/gays-raise-property-values-no-duh_02.html
Someone also commented that incenstives for home owners exists for depressed areas. What are they. I don't remember seeing any.
That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've read yet on this blog. There already is a tax incentive to move into depressed neighborhoods. If you haven't checked, the taxes in SE Seminole Heights, and similar neighborhoods, are much cheaper than buying a new house in N Tampa.
ReplyDeleteAnd to base it on sexuality, or creativity, is absurd. So a man and woman who are married and work in a white collar profession move next door to a gay couple or "artist", wouldn't receive the tax break? Where's the rationale? That they are blindly moving into the neighborhood, yet the others are "pioneers"? It's down right insulting. I would think "gays" would be insulted by the notion as well.
Why not extend the idea and give "blacks" a tax incentive to move into wealthy neighborhoods?
This is just the belief that homosexuals deserve special rights running amok.
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny... you mention the word "gay" and people freak. Anyway, you have to read the article the Tampa Tribune wrote back in Aug. of 2005 "Gay Influx into Neighborhood Tends to Raise Property Values" http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBPR085UBE.html to better understand where this idea may have come from. I personally don't see a tax incentive ever happening. As the article quoted, "...gays aren't the only ones rejuvenating neighborhoods. It's also artists, college- educated young professionals and DINKS - dual-income households with no kids, Kageyama said. But gays, simply by living in same-sex households and often displaying pride symbols, happen to be the most recognizable group."
ReplyDeleteTrying to narrow down the qualifications of the "urban pioneer" for a tax incentive would be almost impossible. Too many different types of people fit this profile. Targeting just the homosexuals and/or artists would be discrimination towards other people who would otherwise qualify. And I'm a gay. My partner and I live in Seminole Heights and are slowly trying to bring a bungalow house back to life.
With rising gas prices and a shifting paradigm(less time commuting means more time for family/work/fun), urban centers are slowly becoming more desirable once again to professionals. I don't think there needs to be any additional incentives for revitalization, it just takes time. It's funny, because when I was a kid, Carollwood was so chic, and Town and Country was up and coming but there are areas now that I lock my doors when drive through. Watching the news it seems there are increasing crime reports for shootings out in Brandon, and Gang activity in T&C.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of tax incentives though, what a big problem is there is no protection for the pioneering small businesses in these areas. Until the business core of the neighborhood reaches a critical mass to become self sustaining there should be some incentives to give them a protection against rising property taxes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps taxpayers funding of homoerotic art in economically depressed areas would help quicken the pace of this gay urban renewal! Imagine a large sculpture in the middle of the pond in Tampa Heights" Robles Park.
ReplyDeleteThe inevitable controversy would bring much needed atttention to this area.
anony 11:03:
ReplyDeleteNext you will be wanting a gay pride parade through the targeted areas-get real.
Tampa's Human Rights ordinance make the proposed tax incentive illegal as well it should be. The city ordinance be on the side of the heterosexuals who would be adversely impacted.
ReplyDeleteYou can not harness trends and channel them without actually destroying the creative force that lay behind the trend to start with.
As a gay person it a short-sighted, unethical and immoral proposition.
It's an amusing proposition in the least. However, in a society that can't even bring itself to treat its gay and lesbian citizens as equals, any sort of incentives aimed at that community are unlikely.
ReplyDeleteTo hear a bunch of married heterosexuals scoff at incentives for homosexuals is both amusing and depressing. I like irony, even when I'm on the wrong end of its stick.