Statement regarding the eviction in our district due to tax sale

I'm so sorry this is happening to Ms Woodward. We been working with her for the past few months trying to get the tax sale reversed. We were unsuccessful because this is the result of a 2018 tax sale, and the property has since been sold to another owner. While Ms. Woodward was disputing the water bill the sale occurred. The city stopped tax sale for water bills in the 2019 General Assembly session. I have questions about whether her family received proper notice for the chance to redeem the property and we are still investigating that situation. But families should not lose their homes this way. It's horrific. I am determined to continue our tax sale reform efforts to ensure this does not happen to anyone.

Here are the efforts we’ve made so far, and more we have to do:

Mayor Scott has removed homeowners from tax sale the past three years, and all indications are that he may continue to do that. Councilwoman McCray passed the tax sale exemption program were residents can apply to be removed from the tax sale. I introduced legislation to allow residents to pay their taxes monthly so as to ease the burden of having to come up with the funds 2 times a year.  That legislation has passed and is being implemented now. DPW now has a program where residents can pay their water bills in installments, and in 2019 legislation passed to ensure residents homes cannot go to tax sale for water bills (Del Mosby and Senator Washington were the sponsors).  I also introduced legislation to create payment plans for residents in arrears.  We needed permission from the General Assembly to do this, and we go it in 2022 thanks to Delegate Chanel Branch. I will be working diligently with the Dept of Finance, Mayor’s office, and my colleagues to pass the payment plan legislation.  Finally, we need permission from the General Assembly to cancel tax sale all together.  Only 20 states including Maryland still have this antiquated and predatory system of collecting taxes and liens.  We know there is another way to do this, by providing payment plans and providing aid to residents who need it.  That’s the kind of system we are creating.  In addition, the vacant properties will be handled with the new In Rem system rather than tax sale. We need assistance from the General Assembly and continued leadership of Mayor Scott and the City Council to move forward.  We are ready.  What happened to Ms. Woodward is shameful.  We cannot be a city that thrives when residents are evicted by an antiquated collections system.