Bernie Sanders offers 3 ideas to help battle gentrification while in Greenville

[Donkees]

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Eric Connor, The Greenville News Published Updated 5:12 p.m. ET April 19, 2019

The West End is Greenville’s epicenter for the pressures of gentrification, and it was from that platform Friday that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders spoke on what he considers solutions to an affordable housing crisis that he said spreads across the country.

“This is an issue we don’t discuss enough,” Sanders told a crowd of about 200 at the West End Community Development Center on South Main Street during an event billed as a forum on poverty. “Believe me, it’s not just a Greenville issue. It’s a national issue.”

The 77-year-old U.S. senator from Vermont referenced his time as mayor of the city of Burlington, to answer a specific question about how to solve negative impacts of gentrification on the West Greenville and Greater Sullivan neighborhoods.

Three concepts emerged, the first of which is an effort the city of Greenville created two years ago — a housing trust fund.

In Burlington, Sanders said the city subsidized construction of affordable housing that could only be sold later at a marginally higher rate. The concept has been used in Greenville communities such as Viola Street.

The other two proposals haven't been implemented here — requiring developers to provide a certain amount of affordable housing in developments, often referred to as "inclusionary zoning," and laws mandating rent control for working-class renters.

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/04/19/bernie-sanders-south-carolina-rally-danny-glover-dr-cornel-west-affordable-housing-greenville-sc/3520397002/

[Donkees]

1. Bernie was first mayor to pass a Community Land Trust bill to keep housing affordable in perpetuity

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[corbettkroehler]

5. I Long Have Agreed

I didn't know that Bernie had moved boldly in the area of a community land trust so many years ago but can't say I'm surprised. I appreciate your sharing that detail and can tell you that Central Florida has an equal need.

The significant pay raises at Walt Disney World, for which Bernie deserves partial credit, have helped somewhat but the region's economy would be even stronger if we could guarantee affordable housing for working class folks.

[Donkees]

6. ''How Bernie Sanders Made Burlington Affordable''

How Bernie Sanders Made Burlington Affordable

As the city’s mayor in the 1980s, he championed an unusual model of publicly supported housing. It’s still working.
Today, the organization whose creation he made possible—now called the Champlain Housing Trust—is the largest and most influential of its type in the nation.

https://slate.com/business/2016/01/bernie-sanders-made-burlingtons-land-trust-possible-its-still-an-innovative-and-effective-model-of-affordable-housing-today.html

[corbettkroehler]

7. More Yummy Goodness - Thank You Once Again! (n/t)

[Donkees]

2. When we are in the White House we will attack the problem of gentrification and rising rents ...

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[Snotcicles]

3. I understand gentrification may also be a problem in South Bend Indiana. nt

[corbettkroehler]

4. I Greatly Respect Mayor Pete

but if you're right, he will need to address this important issue soon.