Housing

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As mayor, improving Nashville's housing situation will be a main area of concern, as I believe a warm, comfortable, and safe place to reside is one of the most basic necessities of life. With the coming turbulence and decay of the global economy, not only finding housing for people without it, but keeping people in the homes they're in is going to be a major focus and concern. 

As it stands now, property tax is the main source of tax revenue for our city (75%), as we do not have an income tax, but given where we are headed, in terms of inflation and job losses, I don't see raising property taxes on citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet as a viable or fair source of income. On a principle level, I also don't believe anyone who "owns" a piece of property should ever be penalized or banished from their own, rightful property due to a local or federal tax. This is completely un-American, and outright wrong to me, and I will do everything I can to never let such a thing take place. We as a city, and I as a mayor, need to find other places to increase city revenues and trim bureaucratic fat from the budget so property taxes do not increase at an absurd rate. Our city needs a new and an improved vision when it comes to generating income, some of which is outlined in my financial plans. 

When it comes to Nashville's growth and accommodating for new citizens, and longer term citizens that are without housing, we also need to get creative and break beyond the old solutions of out-of-touch politicians, most of whom will push for the ordinary routes of "rent control" and government "guaranteed" housing. Many of them have no idea of the real implications of these policies. For instance, imposing rent control sounds like an easy and obvious solution for affordable housing, but the real effect of policies like these are that end up de-incentivizing the construction of new homes, rentals and landlords, and diminish the overall supply of housing in the general market. They are a band aid for a bullet wound, and end up causing more problems than they solve.

I believe the future of Nashville's housing, and space shortage for that matter, is going to depend on an innovative take on the new homes to come, and the best use of our space. One way I see of achieving this is by building communities of Boxabi homes, tiny homes and modern simplified home residences. These are beautiful, comfortable, and well built living environments that are not only affordable and homey, but also will allow for maximum use of limited space. I also would like to do away any zoning regulations that make it harder for Nashvilleans to rent out rooms, and/or guest houses.