These Aren't The Low-Income Families We're Looking For
George Lucas is tired of fighting Marin County over developing his land there for business use. This may be unfair, because I don't really know much about George Lucas's politics, but my bet is that he is a typical wealthy liberal who supported all these sorts of restrictions on everyone else, until they applied to him. Anyway, he is pushing a new plan, one sure to highlight the absolute hypocrisy of more-liberal-than-thou Marin County residents (NYT via Reason)
Mr. Lucas said he would sell the land to a developer to bring "low income housing" here.
"It's inciting class warfare," said Carolyn Lenert, head of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.
Mr. Lucas said in an e-mail that he only wanted "to do something good for Marin," waving away accusations of ulterior motives.
"I've been surprised to see some people characterize this as vindictive," he said, adding that there was a "real need" for affordable housing here. "I wouldn't waste my time or money just to try and upset the neighbors."
Whatever Mr. Lucas's intentions, his announcement has unsettled a county whose famously liberal politics often sits uncomfortably with the issue of low-cost housing and where battles have been fought over such construction before.
My son had a brush with Lucas-inspired state authority last week:
perlhaqr:
"No, no! We love poor people. Over there. Way over there."
May 22, 2012, 7:57 ammarco73:
"We love poor people to come over and clean our houses, cut the lawn, and care for our children, but not to actually live here. You know, poor people are more comfortable living near their own kind, far away from us."
May 22, 2012, 8:21 amme:
Ah, those are the new police uniforms y'all have in the Arizona now? Fitting.
May 22, 2012, 8:55 amAnna:
“It’s inciting class warfare."
How dare he foist class warfare on the unarmed citizens of Marin. Doesn't he realize they have no class?!
(I read this story yesterday along with the one about Bush Sr apologizing for characterizing John Lindh Walker as a hot-tubbing resident of Marin. Residents of Marin took umbrage. I thought, that's because Bush Sr. accused them of actually taking baths. Doesn't he know anything about hippies?!)
May 22, 2012, 9:47 amMJ:
I hear there's plenty of affordable housing down in Vallejo. Maybe the poor can go there.
May 22, 2012, 10:38 amVic Kelley:
I support the county. There is nothing to gain from developing low-income housing. The "deserving" or "underprivileged" or poor - and we're really talking about coloreds here aren't we - if they can't afford to live in upscale counties then let them live elsewhere.
Really, no one is owed a house. Let the markets set housing values. Good for the county to stick up for itself and its majority residents. I wonder what Mr. Lucas' motives really are.
May 22, 2012, 12:10 pmNL_:
The real problem is that if this property is out where the Skywalker Ranch is, then it's not very convenient. I'm not sure the bus even goes this far right now (though surely the GG Bus route would be extended). But it's got to be a 45 minute bus ride to downtown Novato or San Rafael, and maybe over an hour for a commuter line into SF. Doesn't seem ideally placed for poor people.
May 22, 2012, 4:04 pmBrian Dunbar:
"I wouldn't waste my time or money just to try and upset the neighbors."
I missed the subtle use of'try' on the first read.
Nice wording, George.
May 23, 2012, 6:53 amRuss R.:
I support Mr. Lucas' right to do whatever he wants with his property, including selling it to whomever he desires, for any purpose whatsoever.
However, if that purpose does actual damage to his neighbor's properties (e.g. toxic waste spillage), then Mr. Lucas should righly be held liable for such damages.
(Declining property value because the school disctrict would include a larger percentage of poor people, doesn't constitute an "actual damage").
May 23, 2012, 7:08 am