What is happening in Ballard with the displacement of tenants from their affordable apartments in order to make way for the development of market-rate condominiums is so antithetical to the spirit of this season. At a time when we are proclaiming that we are to make room in the inn for those who need a place to rest or reside, we are allowing people to be forced out of their homes to make way for developers for whom the bottom line is profit, not the common good of all.

A 90-day notice for someone to have to decide to invest in a condominium or find a new place to live, probably at a higher rent, is hardly a law of compassion and justice. Even the proposed legislation to establish the Affordable Housing Land Acquisition Program is a lame excuse for what is happening right now in Ballard to people who are being forced out of their homes. The developers who are going to make a profit for years to come from these residential conversions are the ones who ought to be paying right now for providing affordable housing in Ballard, not the city's Office of Housing.

Sharon Lee is correct when she calls this injustice a major crisis. Nothing could be more shameful than forcing people out of their homes in order to make a profit.

Similarly, nothing could be more tragic during this holiday season than for the people of Ballard to sit by and watch this catastrophe take place while the developers are saying to those who cannot afford their high prices that there is no more room for you in this inn. This crisis can be averted, but it will take the will of everyone in Ballard to make it possible for these good people to stay in their homes.

We have an opportunity today to join with the Prince of Peace and bring peace to Ballard and good will to all.

Ron Moe-Lobeda

Crown Hill