Predatory taxing hurts homeowners

Lately I have heard a lot of spewing about how the so-called predatory lending practices of mortgage companies are causing many foreclosures on poor, innocent victims. I am sorry, but I knew the amount of my monthly payments, and in the case of ARMs I knew how high my monthly payments could rise for every loan that I have ever received.

As a homeowner, the one factor I never knew was the amount of my property taxes each year. Has a study ever been done not to show how many homeowners have been in foreclosure due to the amount of their mortgage but to see how many people are losing their homes due to the predatory taxing practices of their local governments?

It is amazing how the cities, counties and school districts in this state can just increase property taxes on property owners without any agreement from the property owners. And then when people are losing their property due to these taxes, there is no public outcry about the predatory taxing practices of the local governments.

Yet when a person is foreclosed on because they cannot abide by the terms of a contract they signed, there is a public outcry about the terrible and mean mortgage companies.

I say if mortgage companies are going to be required to renegotiate the terms of a mortgage for people going into foreclosure, then local governments should be required to renegotiate the property taxes of the same innocent victims.

THOMAS DAHL

CARVER

Gas tax would be reasonable solution

I have what is sure to be an unpopular, if reasonable, answer to keeping the state of Minnesota running in these difficult economic times.

Since gas prices have been unnaturally low (see Europe and their extensive mass transit), further decreasing state revenue, I propose an emergency gas tax on all gas sold below, what, $2.75, bringing it up to $2.75. Thus, folks would be less inclined to believe the energy crisis has miraculously ended (as many I am sure already believe) and the state could use the money to pay the bills. You know, for little things, like paying for education, cops -- well, you get my drift.

C. K. PETERSON

MINNEAPOLIS

Why no mention of population growth?

Please add my voice to that of Robert J. Gibson (Nov. 28 letter to the editor).

Population growth is at the root of the world's worst problems, so why isn't anyone talking about zero population growth?

You just ran another article on "Our Hungry Planet" -- with no mention of population. Looks like all the media are afraid to touch the subject with a pole of any length.

Do the various religions that want to increase the numbers of their faith have you scared or what?

HARRY TEDER

EXCELSIOR

Academy's success is the untold story

You'd think that an inner-city public school with 80 percent low-income students and a racially diverse population (no more than 30 percent of any single race) that makes the federally required Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for all students would be a cause for celebration, wouldn't you?

Apparently not, according to Myron Orfield, executive director of the University of Minnesota's Institute on Race and Poverty, or Star Tribune reporters.

Minneapolis Academy, a charter middle school (grades 5-8) in south Minneapolis, separates its students by gender, because we have found it produces better results, academically and socially. Parents from low-income families (the ones Orfield allegedly champions) are choosing this school because it offers their children a strong middle school option without being bused 15 to 20 miles out of the city.

These parents are quite content to decide for themselves which public school works best for their children. We're honored they selected Minneapolis Academy. While we always can improve, we hope legislators and the general public will take a fair look at what we have and are accomplishing.

The Academy parents want safe classrooms, a rigorous curriculum and schools that are grounded in a sense of right and wrong, where children can learn about character and responsibility.

LEON COOPER

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

MINNEAPOLIS ACADEMY

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