News & Literature

Eric Sabree

What to Say:

Hello, my name is [name] and I live in [city and state]. I am calling to advise Eric Sabree that he should support the demands of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures.

We demand that Mr. Sabree:

1. Stop all foreclosures until we can confirm Delinquent Taxes do not entail unconstitutional assessments
2. Stop all foreclosures on people who owe less than $5000.

Erica Gerson

The Detroit Land Bank owns approximately 32,000-33,000 vacant residential properties.

What to Say:

Hello, my name is [name] and I live in [city and state]. I am calling to advise Erica Gerson that he should support the demands of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures.

We demand that Mrs. Gerson:

1. Provide compensation for those who have already been foreclosed upon despite being unconstitutionally assessed.

Alvin Horhn

A recent study shows that over 90% of properties valued below $30,000 were illegally assessed.

What to Say:

Hello, my name is [give name] and I live in [city and state]. I am calling to advise Alvin Horhn that he should support the demands of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures.

We demand that Mr. Horhn:

1. Cut Assessments by 30% for properties valued $50,000 and under, because a recent study shows that over 90% of lower-valued homes were being unconstitutionally assessed.
2. Stop placing delinquent water bills on the property tax bill.

Mike Duggan

Eric Sabree, Alvin Horhn, and Erica Gerson will not grant our demands without the thumbs up from Mayor Duggan.

What to Say:

Hello, my name is [give name] and I live in [city and state]. I am calling to advise Mike Duggan that he should support the demands of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures.

We demand that Mayor Duggan:

1. Authorize Mr. Horhn to reduce assessments by 30% for properties valued below $30,000.
2. Pressure the Detroit Land Bank to make the 32,000-33,000 vacant residential properties available for transfer to owner-occupiers who were subject to unconstitutional assessments and lost their homes.
3. Encourage Mr. Sabree to put all upcoming tax foreclosures on hold until we can confirm that these taxpayers were not unconstitutionally assessed.
4. Remove water bills from the property tax bill and pay compensation to those who have lost their homes due to non-payment of water bills.
5. Revise the Step Forward Program so residents can more easily access these monies to save their homes.
6. Use hardest hit funds to pay off property taxes that are based on unconstitutional assessments.

Public Hearing for HPTAP Ordinance

The final City Council public hearing for the HPTAP ordinance will be held on November 20th. The ordinance was built by community and Coalition input. It increases awareness and accessibility for HPTAP by solidifying and expanding upon the changes established by the City’s settlement with the ACLU.

Community Workshop on the Tax Foreclosure Crisis

From 2011 to 2015, the Wayne County treasurer foreclosed on about 1 in 4 Detroit properties for nonpayment of property taxes, the most in any American city since the Great Depression. It's been an avoidable, human-made disaster for the city, but the good news is that many voices across Detroit are joining together to bring it to a halt.

We will have a short overview of the Illegal Tax Housing Foreclosure process and we need you there! Join members of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures, Good Jobs Now, Precinct Delegates, Block Club Members & Community Leaders doing grassroots work that is leading to change, you can help your family and your Detroit neighbors stay homeowners.