On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to keep excess home equity over the amount to cover property taxes due by the owners of homes lost for non-payment. Yet, since that time, several articles in the Recorder (including the Woodbridge and Browning lawsuits), as well as statements made at City Council meetings defending the practice by the city, indicates that the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling on the matter is being ignored by Greenfield.
This is much more than taking the additional value in home equity from homeowners who already can’t afford their property tax payments. Because the Supreme Court has ruled on this, stopping and repaying the theft will eventually and certainly be enforced here in Greenfield. Until this is remedied, the amount to be reimbursed will continue to increase.
How many more lawsuits are in process? Who is going to pay for legal defense of such theft? It is by those who are paying property taxes. That’s all of us — even a portion of one’s rent is for taxes. Except for the homeless, that is, and taking people’s homes can only increase the number of homeless.
The laws of ethics and morality also govern us, actually superseding the man-made laws of the city, state and nation. A misguided government trampling on private property rights, the Constitution, and the higher law must be redirected as soon as possible. Nov. 7 is our chance to stop the thievery.
Gerard “Ardi” Keim
Greenfield