Are we becoming a ghost town?
I was looking at the Housing Authority of Ventura County's section 8 rental housing list and was surprised to see that Fillmore has 67 properties listed for rent. More than double any other city.
We all recognize that the housing bubble has finally exploded but why would Fillmore be more affected than other cities?
Sewer Bills?
A year ago Mr. Eduardo Gonzalez told the City Council and Bert Rapp that Fillmore would become a "ghost town" because of the costs of the sewer plant. Many people, including myself, spoke out in opposition of the high cost of the plant as well as the huge increases we would be facing in operating and maintenance costs. We all pleaded for some reconsideration before going down this road. We will soon find out how much of our money we left on the table when Santa Paula's "apples to apples" bids are final.
Mayor Conaway and Mayor Pro-tem Cuevas didn't see it as too much of a problem. After all, we needed more growth and this sewer plant would provide for our future needs. That was the priority. If you couldn't pay your sewer bill, well the City would be able to lien your property for collection. There was also talk of contracting with a collection agency to handle all of the late and defaulted payments. I don't know if that has been implemented or not. Now I don't mean to be critical and have tried to be fair and respectful of their position but where is the accountability?
One of the more creative solutions from Ms. Cuevas was that since interest rates were coming down people would be able to refinance their homes(again). Friends, if you have to refinance your home to pay your sewer bill...I have no words...just sadness.
Overbuilding?
In spite of Vision 2020's stated goals of "slow, controlled growth", the opposite has been occurring. We've overbuilt. Fillmore's General Plan growth for 2020 is 37% higher than SCAG's(Southern California Association of Governments) projections.
I don't think you can just say that Fillmore vacancy rate is high because of the housing bubble. Santa Paula has only two Section 8 rentals. Wouldn't they be similarly affected by the housing bubble? Maybe the Fillmore tenants all moved to Santa Paula.
What is your take on these numbers?
posted by Gayle Washburn @ 6:05 AM
13 Comments
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13 Comments:
I have noticed many more houses for rent than I have seen before in Fillmore, I was guessing it was because they are asking for higher rent. The list you attached had pretty high rents. The sewer rates could certainly be a contributing factor. (Is that why Habitat for Humanity pulled out of the Main Street project?)
I also wonder how many section 8 vouchers are available for Fillmore. If there are no new ones we just have the same eligible families moving from time to time. Remember the two thousand people who lined up in Oxnard when they reopened their list a few weeks ago?
smurfy: Yes, the rents on that list were really high compared to what you see in the paper.
I hadn't heard about a Habitat for Humanity project.
I'm not sure if the vouchers are available based on location. I think the families get the certificates and rent where ever they want.
I missed the story about Oxnard but I did hear that there were NO Section 8 rentals available over there (as the chart confirms, there is nothing).
Anyone think about the illegal immigration factor. In others words since the government is finally starting to do their jobs school enrollment and other social programs have been declining in enrollment and use. This is a really good thing in my opinion. There was a document that was published with GOVERNMENT SOURCES LISTED that stated that Illegal Immigration costs the US and California a combined cost of 383 BILLION dollars a years that is BILLION. If this major problem is resolved NO MORE DEFICIT AT SAC, OR WASHINGTON DC.
It's intresting when you search Santa Paula's on line paper for anything "sewer" and all kinds of warnings come up ie; "Cook also noted that Fillmore’s costs to construct their DBO wastewater plant are “doubling now, and they’re” too far along in the process to change. He expressed concerns that the same thing would happen to Santa Paula."
There also is one comment that states that "Santa Paula doesn't want to make the same mistake as Fillmore" (gee I wonder what they mean?)
Your right Gayle, we are a ghost town.
Check out Downtown, how about the Senior Center it is nearly empty everday. They get $92,0000 from RDA money and nothing is scheduled for the Seniors, what is really going on?
@ anon 9:04. Illegal immigration does have an impact. According to SCAG, that is where a lot of our growth is occurring.
@ anon 9:51. Not only Santa Paula, but Ventura County also recognized the mistake that Fillmore has made. The County rejected bids on the Piru Wastewater Treatment Plant and they are rebidding.
@ anon 3:23. That's too bad that the Senior Center doesn't have more activities going on. With Parkview right next door and the other senior apartments downtown, you would think it would be used frequently.
I just did some rough calculations on the budget and Total Personnel Expense(salaries) increased 35% from 2007 to 2008. While Total Operating Expense(services and other expenses) only went up 9%.
Gayle,
Why is it that you and claire seem to think that you all are more qualified to judge our city officials? Your post and claire's are gross.I approve of Bert and others at city hall.Im perfectly content with them.
@ anon 12:00 pm. Please articulate what is "gross" about my comments?
I am happy that you approve of Bert and I will be the first to say that no one has more charm than Bert. I have also defended others at city hall.
But, just because I like or respect an individual does not mean that I would not bring their attention to something that wasn't serving the best interests of Fillmore.
And, as far as the sewer plant or a few other issues, the people of Fillmore have been exploited. If you think that's okay, I question your motives and why you would want that swept under the rug.
Gayle whats the latest on the sewer plant? I heard Camarillo Engineering screwed up.
To Fillmore Bloggers-
Hi, my name is Marta Jorgensen and
I have been reading your blog and want to know more about the economics of Fillmore and the housing issue. I am running for
U.S. Congress in the 24th District.
We never hear about Fillmore up here in Santa Barbara County so I will need schooling.
thanks, good blog
best regards
Jorgensen For Congress
jorgensenforcongress08@gmail.com
Just found this blog site, will give alittle about myself then make my comment.I have lived in fillmore for 20 years, comming from the Oxnard area. I was stationed there 1975 and have not left still working Pt. Mugu 34 years! I moved here to Fillmore becaused it reminded me of where I grew up, an area now called the Inland Empire! 'We' had a house with 5 acres behind it with animals and a cattle farm 20 miles away raising day old bulls to feed lot size. Life was good living the 'RUAL' way no congestion only lots of LA smog.
Now to my point, Yes housing is high only because 'we' have let outside influence drive our future. Look what happened to Ontario a quiet ag/farm area. Orange County used to be open now its all aspalt and concrete, and I am afraid Fillmore is next. Don't get me wrong I believe in growth, but we all need to look into the crystall ball and plan it with better than Ontario and Orange County did. We need open housing ie. large lots where kids can play in their own yards safe from the street elements. People with toys can park them safely next to thier own homes not Pay extra to store them else where. Safety vehicals can drive streets safely with out having to squeeze through. I sometimes think city goverments see a sourse of income from how many we can squeeze in, and how much we can get from them (cost of house).
I quess what I am saying yes rents are high because housing cost are high and people need to pay morgages and nothing is free. The city needs to watch even more now at what it does and approves. Monies are tight for every one from home owners to renters. Fillmore needs to smell the roses of developement, a rose smell good only for a while, then it goes into the compost heap, ever smell one of them, I do every day in Fillmore. Waste not want not city.
Marta: Thanks for posting. I look forward to meeting you soon. The City budget in Fillmore appears to be fairly stable. We have a lot of debt but I suppose every city has been using RDA to fill the gaps from Prop 13.
We have one of the lowest median incomes in Ventura County. The pain of our sewer rates is having an affect on some people. The senior mobile home park and senior apartment tenants brought issues of affordability in their rents to the City within a few months of the last increase in sewer rates. The issue has not been resolved and some members of that part of the community feel that the City betrayed them.
The businesses are struggling also. One small cafe owner said that the sewer bill was $2,000 per month.
Now throw in an economy headed for either inflation or deflation and $4.00 for gas and it will have an impact on most of the community. It's (past) time to focus on sustainability measures since the housing market will not likely be booming for quite a while.
Sheik: Welcome to you too. I enjoyed reading your post. Finding a balance with the development is not easy. The homes that you describe are the basis of the American Dream that may be going by the wayside. Many cities are adopting the "smart growth" concept which attempts to create pedestrian neighborhoods. It's a good thought but the design for North Fillmore is just too dense for that location.
I think that Fillmore should follow what Moorpark did. Put in more high-end housing in the back of Fillmore. When you bring in richer people they start spending money in town and it improves the town as a whole. Stop with the low income housing, most of the city is low income already.
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