Little homes in Wichita bring out the worst (classism) in people

By SJ Otto

Bigots against poor people have raised their angry voices once more. Landowners have hired a lawyer and they have made threats against the City of Wichita hoping to force them not support affordable housing for lower class homes here in Wichita.

"According to KTEN, Micro Mansions plans to put 90 tiny homes on 15-acres of land. The developer of the land is David Murfin. The city says he made requests, including the annexation to the city and the approval of the plat  for development.

Planning Director Dale Miller spoke before The Wichita City Council to address annexation questions. He told council annexation automatically rezones the land from 20,000 square feet to 4,000-5,000 square feet. Based on legal advice from the City Attorney there was no legal authority to deny the plat."

People nearby this proposed development have invested as much as a $million in their homes so they can complain that other people should pretty much go back to living in the streets, homeless. One good reason for people to invest so much in their homes is so they can practice classism and create their own illusion that they are better than other people who live in this town. They want respect and they have paid for it. They seem to feel that other people in this town should "know their place" and stay in the ghettos where they have been forced to live in the past.

There are also those who have harassed those who support the tiny homes. According to KAKE TV:

"We have a copy of the email that reads, “We’re going to tell you this one “leave Micro Mansions alone.” If not, we will use all of our resources, money and means to stop you. You’re dealing with powerful people that have no problems attacking your business, life and family if you choose not to stop. This is the first and final warning. Stop all efforts of opposition against Micro Mansions now. You think $4000 on GoFundMe is going to stop us? We own Wichita, good luck with that.”

These people don't mince words. They mean to intimidate.

There are a lot of classist people in Wichita who want to make sure that they can assert their influence and control the areas where they live. People continue to stereotype poor people as an excuse to keep them separated from the rest of society. It is bigotry in its purest form as of today. It is one of the few last remaining form of bigotry that is still legal today.

The tiny houses can cost as little as $23,000.

The real problem is that housing and property is often out of reach for many working class Americans. Greedy landlords and land speculators are making big $bucks on homes while many working people struggle to get themselves a place to live. It is a real problem today. Many people in Wichita see homes as an investment while there are many citizens who need homes to actually live in. This issue has brought out the worst in people. But when some people are rejected as sub-human and given no rights, what do people here expect?!