I am appalled by the City Council 3-2 vote to subsidize the Copeland Chinatown project at taxpayer expense by selling off city-owned property valued at more than $8 million for less than $2 million. The fact that the city has been offered $4 million for the very same property only underscores the audacity of this deal. The politics are clear and they stink.

Every day I meet people who cannot afford to rent in this town, people who work for a living and sleep at the shelter. What we need here is more affordable housing, not more shopping. I understand the trickle-down rationale, but all we see are the coffers of the haves filled first and the have-nots eat donated cake.