The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. By that standard (HUD), and the wage rates around here, we have not had affordable housing in living memory in Sarasota. At least one candidate doesn't even say the a-word in connection with housing any more.

It doesn't help at all that the developers have never seen a unit of affordable housing that they haven't wanted to tear down to provide sites for luxury office and condo buildings. I say "NO MORE TEAR DOWNS!"

If we build anything it should be transportation and after that, infill development without tearing down anything. We also need a clear path for current residents to maintain their homes without government interference.

Government interference? That's right, government interference. Evidently, there is an idea exchange amongst building department staff around the English speaking world, exchanging ideas for new and burdensome regulations.

If someone in, say, Australia or India comes up with a new idea of an imposition on homeowners the building staff persons in California, New York and Sarasota have that same imposition on the front burner pronto and it gets added to the books on the rails of the consent agenda - elected officials commonly not having a clue.

One of the impositions is that people can no longer do any more than the most modest repairs on their own residences unless they possess professional licenses for the repair they wish to do. "Home Improvement"? Forget it around here! How Lowe's and Home Depot even stay in business . . .

Of course, this is to insure that only quality work is done. That's what licensed professionals always do, quality.

That this quality comes at a deal breaking cost is unfortunate. Since it comes at a deal breaking cost it plain doesn't get done more often than not. Since it doesn't get done it is no money for the pros, and nothing for the pros to lose if the rule is liberalized and the resident does the work him/herself.

I say we should be issuing not-too-expensive "Home Handyman" licenses for people to do their own work. They would have to pass the same test the pros pass, they would have to get a permit, they would be able to use the Home Handyman license only to work on their own residence, and the work would have to be passed by an inspector. This way the work would actually get done, under permit, pass inspection and the affordable housing properties would be saved for posterity by having regular timely maintenance.