It’s good to see so many people are comfortable going on the record to say the rent is too high. Will the Gazette request comment from people who set the price of rent, and whose income derives from collecting rent? High rents and low foot traffic shuttered enough small businesses this year that people should worry. Is city government listening? People don’t want to walk past vacant storefronts. People don’t spend money if their rent is too high for them to live. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 created a new tax deduction for income earned through pass-through entities.
How much will landlords in our community benefit from this massive upward shift of wealth away from working people? The federal government just gave them a huge incentive to collect rent from small businesses and LLCs, and there are without a doubt people who would take the opportunity to set up shop in town.
Are Northampton property owners waiting for a system that advantages their interests more than the one we have now? Are they waiting for a better deal than one they got from the president, a fellow landlord? Nine City Council seats are coming up on the ballot. I would be interested to see where candidates stand on rent control and tenants’ rights.
Sam Virzi
Northampton