Movin' on up with a mortgage

According to Linda Thompson, one of the core missions of LOVESHIP is to foster homeownership.  It's a familar theme from LT's Big Grab Bag O' Talkin' Points:

"Our bottom line efforts are to increase home ownership, reduce the huge renter base in the City of Harrisburg, stabilize families and grow our local economy" LOVESHIP press release, 6/18/2007

Last year she told the Patriot that home ownership is good for self-esteem.  Movin' on up with a mortgage is what Thompson, LOVESHIP's resident (and only) mortgage counselor advocates:

"Thompson, also Harrisburg City Council president, said that more than 57 percent of the housing in Harrisburg is occupied by renters, mostly those with low to moderate incomes.

"Owning a home is good for a person's pride and self-esteem," she said. "It's also good for a community, bringing stabilization and revitalization." -- Patriot-News, June 28, 2008

And finally this cogent gem (and our personal favorite) from Linda The Communicator:

"'The common denominator with all the partners is to increase home ownership. Contrary to the popular perception, once a homeowner always one, is obviously no longer so, partners recognize that limited homeowners in any city has adverse affects in the growth of our economy, the sustaining of our schools, and a poor quality of life for families making it difficult to encourage developers to invest in citywide revitalization efforts.' says Thompson." -- LOVESHIP press release, 6/18/2007

Despite the fact Thompson behaves like she's preaching a Great Truth, a moron knows a high percentage of owner occupants makes for stable neighborhoods.   She rightly rails against vacant, blighted structures that destabilize a neighborhood and contribute to "human misery."

One would assume, then that this "champion" of home ownership would, in fact, know what the hell she's talking about on a very real and personal level.  So does Ms. Thompson live among the masses?  Not on your life.  Linda has opted for the carefree life of a renter and has got herself a

. . . dee-luxe apartment in the sky!

High above the mean streets of Harrisburg, our delicate Miss Linda is shielded from the realities we surface dwellers deal with on a daily (and nightly) basis.  So much for putting her money where her mouth is.  Especially when you've been lining your pockets by supposedly advising people on how to become homeowners.

Meanwhile, vacant blighted structures continue to plague Harrisburg neighborhoods like the one below.  What makes this particular row special is that middle property is the Jefferson St. house LOVESHIP failed to rehabilitate two years ago.  Guess the neighbors didn't have their "Thompson for Mayor" signs up when this picture was taken on Saturday.

Thompson's sham nonprofit couldn't even manage to rehabilitate one small 2 1/2 story rowhouse but now she is convinced she can save a whole city.