So, usually a call to start a petition gets a Gallic shrug and a smirk from me.
But, two different commenters at my previous diary entitled You Pay How Much in Rent mentioned either drawing up a petition or "putting my money where my mouth is," sort of challenge. So, I thought about it a bit.
After thinking about it and then finding the handy link sent by MoveOn a little earlier, I asked myself, "Why not?" Thinking a little more about it and now posting a link to it here, well, sign if you agree. If you do not, well, that's fine, too.
If we are serious about raising the minimum wage, we also need to address that we need to move the poverty line up so that those affected by raising the minimum wage are still considered to be at risk, economically speaking. Just because we raise the minimum wage to $15/hour does not ensure that people will suddenly all be out of poverty. It simply means that the gap between the über-wealthy and the rest of us has been slightly lessened. We are living in one of the most powerful countries that controls a lot of money. Why are we being so stingy with all that money?
That is partially why I did not say what the minimum wage is in the petition. When we move the goal at one end of the economic pitch, we need to adjust it at the other end, as well.
We need real rent reform now. For far too long, average working Americans have seen their wages stagnate while the costs of living have skyrocketed.
In order to better regulate rental and real estate prices, we need legislation to protect renters from unreasonable price hikes. Additionally, those entities that do not require private housing should be excluded from investing, speculating or otherwise interfering with actual humans gaining and attaining shelter.
To this end, I propose that all metropolitan areas enact rent ordinances that limit affordable housing prices to no more than 1/3 the monthly income of one person working at minimum wage for a one bedroom unit. If there is a family of at least one adult and one child, or one employed adult and one unemployed adult, the rental price is to be tagged at no more than 1/2 of a single income based on full-time employment at minimum wage.
The number of units to be considered for these pricing regulations shall be directly proportionate to the number of individuals living below $40,000/year in each metropolitan area. For example, in one city with an overall population of 500,000 people, and population of 300,000 people earning at or below $40,000/year, the number of affordable rental units shall be no less than 300,000.
Additionally, there needs to be an immediate expansion of public housing units throughout the US. We need a jobs program and the capital to provide for the entire population of Americans living at or below the poverty line with adequate housing opportunities. This means a country-wide building project in all major and minor population centers to build additional public housing units.
Housing is a basic human right. It is not a commodity to be traded on the stock market.
That's why I created a petition to Charlie Hales, Mayor of Portland, The Oregon State House, The Oregon State Senate, Governor Kate Brown, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, which says:
"Giving those in metropolitan areas an economic break."
Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:
http://petitions.moveon.org/...
Thanks!