Letter to the Editor: Affordable Housing Plan Has 'Sensible Recommendations'

Letter submitted by Jen McQuet.

Dear Editor:

I'm a Winnetka parent, on-call teacher, h.s. coach, active volunteer.  My family supports the Village's modest "affordable housing" proposal.  

What did I do to come to this conclusion?  I read it.  I talked to several people on the planning commission.  I talked to other voters/residents.  I walked down to the Interfaith office and found out what they do.  

First a few people said, "Wow, you're gutsy/crazy to take on the conservative Winnetka old-guard.  They have more money, more time and more venom than you do."  Then hundreds said, "Way to go!  We support it too, but fear the social backlash."  

Is that fear justified?  You bet.  Supporters have been dubbed unAmerican, pigs and socialist do-gooders (ouch, that hurts!).   I've been told I should have just moved to Evanston if I wanted diversity or Northbrook if I wanted "apartment neighbors."  Since I coach track & field, one mom actually tried to "joke" that I must be an AH proponent because New Trier needs more girls with "booty!"  Seriously.  

Fortunately, I think that's the mentality of a few.   Many are in staunch support.  But I truly think the majority of residents simply don't understand the plan.  They trust random e-mails to decipher it for them and buy in to the breathy rhetoric.  If they read that it was basically suggesting we give homeowners w/coach houses permission to rent them, ease up some parking restrictions for downtown renters and encourage builders of multi-units to set aside 15% for people making a reasonable salary.  (Ex.  building w/26 units would have 22 at market rate and 4 part of the AH program.   That's 0.1% of Winnetka's HH.)
 
I think if people stopped hyperventalating about taxes, they'd realize that they could easily and happily live with the Village's sensible recommendations.   And to those that think a wee bit more AH would change the fabric or flavor of our great Village....well, it might allow more young families, teachers, fire fighters and seniors to stay here....but it will hardly become section 8 crackhouses (as is commonly spread around town)!!! 

I love Winnetka and find intelligent, compassionate and generous people everywhere. But I have been yelled at while speaking at a public school board meeting.  I've been told our grassroots organization (www.winnetkaisneighborly.org) should just "go away since we have no relevance."   So the "majority" can shout down the "minority" ...and that's ok?  I have opinions on a lot of issues...not just AH....and I don't like to whisper, nor be told how/when and if I should express myself.