Marathon Pundit: Chicago aldermen looking to recruit Detroit councilwoman who paid just $68 in property taxes?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Chicago aldermen looking to recruit Detroit councilwoman who paid just $68 in property taxes?

I know Detroit is in tough shape--Hey, commercial farming is returning to Motown--but could it be true that a Detroit councilwoman--who is a former aide to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)--paid just $68 in property taxes?

Yes, as the late Paul Harvey would say (pause), it's true. JoAnn Watson paid that tiny on her stately home.

The Detroit Free Press has the story:

Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson paid only $68 in property taxes this year because city records say her well-kept, brick Tudor-style home doesn't exist. Although the home has occupied its west-side plot since 1926, city records have classified the parcel as an empty lot for the past decade.

Watson said she was unaware of the discrepancy until the Free Press contacted her. She said the change came before she was elected to City Council -- and without her involvement.

"I pay the taxes. All I know is I had a big drop when my house got hit hard by a tornado," she said. "We had great damage."

Watson said she could not recall the specific date the tornado hit, saying it might have been 2002, or perhaps 1993. (For the latest on this story, see: Councilwoman Watson defends low tax payments)

Watson never reported the damage caused by the tornado, and the Free Press isn't able to verify whether one struck her home.

The New Editor thinks Watson might be happier donning a Chicago Blackhawks sweater, loading up a U-Haul, and driving west on Interstate 94:

According to sources, Chicago Democrats are said to in awe of Councilwoman Watson, and are seeing if it is possible to get her to move to Chicago and become a member of its city council.