"May you live in interesting times."
While the claim that the phrase is a traditional Chinese curse is not true, it still has truth behind it. We're certainly being reminded that living through a period of historically significant events may be interesting, but it's not very enjoyable.
As with most events of social upheaval, people have wildly differing opinions about their causes, meanings, and impact. I certainly have thoughts of my own. But it's not my job to share that here. My job is to ask you to listen to each other. Help each other sort through the barrage of information and changes assailing us. We need to keep talking to each other. Writing off those who disagree with you won't do much to promote a cohesive society. And if you're simply plastering social media with messages deriding others whose politics don't agree with yours as idiots, crazy, or even evil, please stop and ask yourself what you're really trying to accomplish. Are your actions truly helping build a stronger community and country?
On the other hand, there is something I think most everyone has a similar opinion about: property taxes. Although they were delayed, the 2020 notices of appraised value are going out. If you haven't received yours yet, you will soon. As has been the trend for several years now, appraised values continue to go up. Which means taxes continue to go up.
These values are largely based on recent home sale prices. Since prices keep going up in Beacon Hill (some topping $400,000 now), it gets harder to argue that the appraised values are unfounded. But I would encourage you to protest anyway. For one thing, those high sale prices are for newly constructed or highly renovated houses. I don't mind telling you that my house is a long way from being in that condition. It shouldn't be appraised as if it were.
Protests will need to filed by June 29th. It can be done by mail or online.
- Daniel Hubbeling