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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 17, 2004 Office hopefuls call for housing By John Darling Tidings Correspondent It was candidate's-forum lite, and they only had a few minutes each to talk about what they'd do as city councilors or mayor, but the themes they sounded to the packed League of Women Voters gathering were constant - we love this beautiful town but we're more and more afraid it's getting out of reach financially, not just for the working poor but even for us. Mayoral candidate John Morrison joined others running for office at the League of Women voters forum Thursday at the Ashland Elks Lodge. Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings "I'm lucky I bought a house when I did, because I couldn't afford to be here now," said city council candidate and community activist Russ Silbiger. "This city has become a victim of its own success. When you see one school close and another about to, it's not a sign of a healthy community." Said Tom Giardano, architect and council candidate, "We don't have the community support for affordable housing. There's a lot of lip service but not enough money going to it. What we're seeing is that even eligible people can't afford it." Silbiger, an investment manager with a background in Community Works and the city budget committee, said a well-supported, permanent land trust is the "only way" housing here can be kept affordable to those of modest means, short of the city getting into the business of building public housing complexes. Councilor Cate Hartzell said the city needs to find income sources for affordable housing, such as state block grants and community development money before thinking about taxation solutions. "The solution is that people need to step forward with a solution." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams