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The John Christy municipal building is located in downtown Jefferson City (November 18, 2021 file photo courtesy of Jennifer Suchanek of the City of Jefferson)

(AUDIO): Former Jefferson City mayor and citizens group focusing on locations for affordable housing

The John Christy municipal building is located in downtown Jefferson City (November 18, 2021 file photo courtesy of Jennifer Suchanek of the City of Jefferson)

A former Jefferson City mayor wants the city to get back to basics with its approach. Tom Rackers served as Jefferson City’s mayor from 1999 to 2003.

“Our concern is that we feel that our town has gone downhill in the last 20 years, maybe 15. And we’re concerned with that. We’d like to see it come back to the community it was before. We’d like to see our roads and bridges maintained, our storm water problems corrected, and just make this city a better place to work, live and raise a family,” Rackers says.

Former Mayor Rackers also tells 939 the Eagle that the city needs to know what the need is regarding low-income or senior housing. He emphasizes that they’re not opposed to low-income housing, but they don’t want it placed near established neighborhoods.

“We got mixed messages about what the need is. And then next thing is put these things where they belong, not in established neighborhoods where it’s going to affect people’s home values,” Rackers says.

Mr. Rackers tells 939 the Eagle that he and the group have no issue with placing affordable housing at Simonsen, which was struck by the 2019 tornado. They also approve of the project going in near St. Mary’s Boulevard.

“You look at the records nationally. If you put low-income housing in established neighborhood, in a nice neighborhood, it lowers property values. Whether we like it or not, crime goes up. And we just don’t think that’s fair for people that have that big investment to have that loss,” Mr. Rackers says.

He’s also written a letter to the editor of the “Jefferson City News-Tribune” outlining his concerns.

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