This Friday, Save Affordable Housing Funding
At the end of a budget season in which we made great gains for affordable housing, one amendment from Council Chair Phil Mendelson could slow our progress for years to come.
Mendelson is proposing to automatically direct up to $150 million in future revenue growth to tax cuts. That means that any additional money that the city collects would automatically go to tax cuts, regardless of future needs in housing, education, or safety net services. This would tie the city government's hands and give unnecessary tax cuts for businesses and the well-to-do.
The DC Council can stop this terrible idea. This Friday, June 26th, we're calling on expected swing voters Councilmember Vincent Orange (At-large), Councilmember Anita Bonds (At-large), Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) to protect a fair, transparent, and reasonable budget process. The final vote is Tuesday, June 30th, so let's get this done now!
Please sign up to call their offices using the script and phone numbers below:
"Hi, my name is [name], I live in [neighborhood], and I'm calling with Jews United for Justice [and/or your group].
I want to thank the Councilmember for fantastic budget allocations on affordable housing and homelessness in the FY16 budget, but I'm concerned that the chairman's tax cut proposal could jeopardize future investments.
I want to encourage the Councilmember to vote against any automatic allocations of future new revenue for tax cuts. Though this year's housing budget was great, the crisis calls for more than one year of investment. Automatic tax cuts would restrict your office's ability to continue funding affordable housing and other important safety net services.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue, and I hope I can count on Councilmember [last name] to vote against any automatic revenue growth tax cuts."
Vincent Orange, At-large: (202) 724-8174
Anita Bonds, At-large: (202) 724-8064
Charles Allen, Ward 6: (202)-724-8072
Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1: (202) 724-8181