I really appreciate Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s concern for lower-income residents hurt by rising property taxes and utility costs (“Blangiardi to ask for more rent, utility help,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 27). Using the $310 million in federal money means federal taxpayers will have to pay it back (someday), but doesn’t cost the city anything.

But what about those of us caught in the middle class, where’s our property tax and utility relief? If the city were a private industry — like an energy company — the city’s largess would be called a windfall profit and be frowned upon by critics.

Hundreds of millions in federal money, millions more in increased property tax increases — but nothing for those who are just getting by but paying their share.

Mary Monohon

Kailua

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