Detroiters for Tax Justice position statement
We live in a time when financially powerful non-residents of our city can dominate our political system to extract wealth from taxpayer-funded services, and harvest other benefits at our expense to increase their wealth. They operate under rules and laws written to benefit their power. They can have their property taxes suspended for thirty years but a citizen can lose their home for not paying those taxes for three years. They rule the rules.
The willingness of elected officeholders to embrace these extreme and abusive inequalities requires us to think, educate, and act to restore the voice of the people. To Restore Respect. In a city of respected residents, politicians cannot redirect tax dollars approved for one purpose and give that money to wealthy insiders while keeping their dealings secret. They cannot give millions of dollars of land away to billionaires while cutting pensioners' ability to survive. They cannot overtax homeowners while telling rich investors that they do not have to pay property taxes. They cannot strip tens of millions of dollars from education purposes, thus injuring our children's Right to Literacy.
This is justified by contempt and disrespect of the people. Every injustice in world history is justified by contempt of the victims. We will unmask the trail of our money being used against us. The unmasking of these abusive injustices will resonate with the people offended by the dishonesty and hypocrisy that undermines democratic values. By this process we will empower residents in our City and we will Restore Respect.
Read more: About Us
Detroiters for Tax Justice Mission Statement
Our mission is to stop the transfer of public money, public land, and public assets to private corporations at the expense of our schools, libraries, families, and communities.