An organization challenged New York City’s property tax system as unfair, unconstitutional and discriminatory. Tax Equity Now NY LLC, an association of property owners and renters, filed a lawsuit challenging the New York City property tax system. The owners and renters alleged that the City’s property tax system was unfair and results in racial discrimination. The association made several claims: the owners of one-, two- and three-family homes pay too little in taxes as a result of caps and low percentage valuations; condominium and cooperative owners pay too little because the units are valued as if they are rental properties; and that the condominium property tax abatement program is arbitrarily applied. The association also claimed that the New York City property tax system violated the Federal Fair Housing Act because it disproportionately taxes properties in minority communities at higher rates. (read more…)