Thank you! I'm satisfied!

As I noted last night, there are so many people to thank for helping to create and ordinance that three-quarters of the Common Council could vote for and will help ensure that the 500 units that have been approved will finally be sold. And that the 200 - 300 units per year that we expect will get into the hands of people who need this housing. Here is just the beginning of the list of people to be thanked and my apologies if I miss anyone . . .

• Tom Hirsch and the Housing Committee members, and particularly the Affordability Subcommittee

• Nan Fey and the Plan Commission members

• Jed Sanborn and those who participated in the Mayors workgroup

• City Staff, most notably Hickory Hurie and Barb Constans in the CDBG office and Brad Murphy in the Planning Unit

• Veridian Homes, David Simon and Brian Munson (Vandewalle & Assoc) this time around and Jeff Rosenberg from the last round

• The downtown Neighborhood Associations

• Affordable Housing Advocates, particularly Lisa Subeck and Marsha Rummel
  

• And yes, even the Mayor! Most particularly the mayor, and the faceless key staff on this issue.

• Countless other individuals who contributed through constructive dialog.

The media is reporting this morning that the ordinance left "no one totally satisfied" but I, for one, think all of the above people should be proud of their good work. The silly political games some council members chose to play last night are inconsequential if we have an ordinance that works and in the end, people have housing options not previously available to them. That makes me satisfied.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this happen!!!