For Immediate Release

December 8, 2006

Contact: David Dunphy (202) 256-6286                                                                                                                                                              

Knox Supports Affordable Housing Efforts

PHILADELPHIA – Thursday, December 7, 2006.  Mayoral candidate Tom Knox spoke about affordable housing at a community forum for declared mayoral candidates sponsored by the Philadelphia Council for Community Advancement. Also attending was former City Councilman Michael Nutter.  U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who was invited, did not attend.

Knox says support for home ownership and access to affordable housing is essential to revitalizing the City of Philadelphia and will be top priorities in his administration. "First and foremost people need to feel secure about having a place to live," Knox said after speaking to listeners at a recent community housing forum. "I grew up in public housing, I know first-hand how important affordable housing is to many families.”  “It's the basic building block of any community and we need to be doing a better job of it here in Philadelphia."

Knox said he supports such measures as "inclusionary zoning," which ensures that portions of new developments are affordable to those not in top income brackets. "I'm not just talking about those at poverty levels," Knox said, "middle-income people are also being squeezed out of the housing market and we must make certain that the dream of home ownership remains within reach for as many Philadelphians as possible."

Both candidates agreed with extending, but perhaps modifying the "10-year tax abatements," which help revitalize neighborhoods by deferring property taxes for new construction.  Knox proposed dedicating a portion of the “year 11” tax revenues to the affordable housing trust fund.  These are revenues that the city will start to receive after the “10 year” tax abatements expire.

He also said that the city must ensure that any property tax reform measures should soften the blow to low-income families, and seniors and the disabled who are on fixed incomes.  Otherwise, dramatic increases in property taxes may force some Philadelphians out of their homes. "We cannot have a reform package that forces people on fixed incomes, or people of moderate means out of their homes.”   Many long-term residents have homes that have appreciated in value, however their incomes may not have risen similarly.  Tax reassessment may mean many such families would not be able to pay the new property tax bill.  “We must find a way to protect homeowners who will see their tax bills raise dramatically," Knox said. "And the most important thing we've got to do is to fix city government so that people know that they are getting quality services for the taxes they pay."

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Last Updated: December 30, 2006