Flathead residents raise concerns about housing, mental health at listening session hosted by state lawmakers
The Daily Inter LakeMar 28, 2024
Mar. 28—Flathead Valley residents expressed frustration over property taxes, the lack of affordable housing and a broken mental health system during a listening session organized by Democratic state lawmakers Tuesday.
"We may not have all the answers, even though you may think we do and some legislators may think they do," said Rep.
The session was part of a statewide Democratic legislative listening tour. Legislators in attendance Tuesday included Rep.
The intent of the listening tour was not to host a candidate forum or participate in a question-and-answer session, the elected officials said.
"We really just want to listen," Caferro said.
Concerned residents addressed multiple topics during the session, a main one being housing costs and availability.
The housing issue, on all sides, stems from "how tremendously expensive life has gotten for middle-class Americans," according to
Everything costs more, Jopek said, especially housing. The Republican supermajority has only made it worse, he said, citing a rise in property taxes.
"[The supermajority is] bonkers... They've forgotten that we're all Montanans," Jopek said to the group.
"I think the state can play a really, really unique role in creative financing structures and financing products for affordable housing, especially for starter homes if people are willing to reimagine what that looks like," Getts said, mentioning quad-plexes, small condo units and other low cost designs.
Mental health, and the lack of infrastructure surrounding it, was also a topic of interest for community members.
Hudak, from a provider perspective, asked the legislators to communicate clearer when dealing with mental health progress, programs or institutions.
"We are in a mental health crisis in the valley," Phillips said.
Through serving on
Others expressed concerns about the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site, transparency regarding campaign finances, funding for schools, polluted wells and teacher's pay.
The face-to-face session is intended for Democratic legislators to hear the public's concerns about where the state is headed. The tour was expected to head to the
The legislative listening tour began last summer in
Reporter
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