We are all aware of the lack of “affordable” housing here. However, affordable means different things to different people. Webster defines “affordable” as something for which we can bear the cost.

Many of us have trouble getting, or affording, starter housing. Ours was a second-story, one-bedroom rental apartment in Chicago right next to the noisy elevated train tracks.

The root cause of “affordable” housing is “insufficient supply” and the “red tape” of our building codes. The shortage of land drives up housing prices, putting homeownership out of reach of working families. To help solve this issue, we must recognize that making more land available, reducing building regulations, taxes and zoning for housing is the most efficient way to house more people. Regulations can add nearly 50% to the cost of housing. We need to make it more affordable to build them.

My research shows our Summit County Government owns many properties, and these properties pay no real estate taxes. And they continue to use our real estate taxes to buy more each year. Some of these properties will require creative construction concepts. However, we have all seen homes and structures built on the side of mountains all around the world.

Just imagine if the county would sell just 5% to 10% of these properties to builders/developers, and reduce building regulations, taxes and zoning on them. This would certainly redefine “affordable housing” here.

Please contact your county commissioner or attend their meetings. Put their feet to the fire. Ask them why they continue to purchase and own these lands and what are their specific plans to help us attain affordable housing. Don’t let them off the hook.

The Pogo cartoon (between 1948 & 1975) famously said: We have met the enemy, and he is us.