Affordable Workforce Housing

Silly, silly me! My understanding of “affordable workforce housing” demonstrates how naïve I can be. Unfortunately, I don’t have in my possession a Government Dictionary that spells out the true meaning of buzz wording.

I first became aware of the concept of affordable workforce housing a couple of years ago at one of the hearings of Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. I thought it a unique and progressive means of setting a path for a broader range of residents to share in what is typically the best investment one can make in their lives.

Another reality check put this design at a higher level of government: a knucklehead brainchild of the Tallahassee Legislative branch. It appears to be a pointless goal since there seems to be no dedication to bring the idea to fruition.

I have now come to the conclusion that the word “workforce” is generally meant for those with government employment, particularly police, firemen and schoolteachers. You might think government would show a sense of urgency but there is seldom a discussion of the matter. The one exception is County Commissioner Diane Rowden. Her words and thoughts on the subject gave me an awareness of the term.

Mrs. Rowden is quite the maverick of the five-member Board. Time and again she has openly expressed her dismay when hearing after hearing broadens the scope of residential subdivisions. Her No vote is expected but hers is the only dissenting vote.

The Commission’s hearing for giving the approval of Sierra Properties’ Hickory Hill project atop the county’s most esthetic piece of land demonstrated her misunderstanding of what every other community leader sees as Hernando County’s future in the grand scheme of development. Her shock and dismay over what became the final approval was blatantly displayed after the vote was said and done. Mine too. With little consolation, I held a hastily printed sign that read “What about affordable workforce housing?” Diane gave me acknowledgement, the appreciation was apparent.

Commissioner Rowden will have to give the idea up for the time being. She has little choice but to wait for the influence of local business interests give the signal that it’s okay to give it a green light. For it to be a financial boon to their interests, the green will have to be in the form of big bucks.