HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-24 Public Comment - N. Nakamura - Paying livable wages to build affordable housingFrom:Natsuki Nakamura
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Paying livable wages to build affordable housing
Date:Friday, June 7, 2024 8:01:00 AM
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Dear Commission,
I listened in on the Economic Vitality Board's conversation about CDBG, and it appears the
Consolidated Plan will come in front of you for review next month. CDBG is indeed difficultmoney to use (at the nonprofit I worked at before, it took us 7+ years to get an ADA compliant
lift built that was through CDBG). But something that I hope doesn't get portrayed asunnecessary bureaucracy are the labor and safety standards. Construction projects funded by
CDBG have to comply with Davis-Bacon wage, which means good pay and safer workingconditions for new and long-time construction workers alike. Even immigrants who were
coming to us to learn English had already picked up on it being good work and often asked meif we were hiring after they saw the obligatory "Davis-Bacon" signs hung up in our building
during construction.
Also, in case you missed it, HOC of Montgomery County won an award for their innovativefinance model.
Best,
Natsuki Nakamura