RE: City of Change: Black, non-Hispanic white populations drop while Hispanic numbers increase

If the city wants the middle class tax base that they depend on to stay put, maybe they could offer (at least temporary) tax incentives for buying downtown property and encourage further development of a plethora of empty blocks and empty buildings with great residential potential.

That's a good idea. Unfortunately, the current legal interpretation of the equal taxation clause in the State Constitution ties the hands of local governments. All political subdivisions (basically counties and municipalities) must levy taxes in the same way and at the same rates to every citizen and business entity. All that leaves open are the options of the heinous cash incentives (i.e. corporate welfare) and the use of certain "programs" aimed at getting around the clause. Unfortunately, the only one of the latter that has been upheld in the courts is the business incentive package that grants back some percentage of the taxes paid based on the number of employees hired and the dollar amount invested in the business. There is no way to provide individuals with local tax incentives.

Isn't it ironic how much trouble is caused by equalitarian altruism?