The Coalition for Property Tax Justice

Using Detroit as a lens, PLUNDERED by @ProfAtuahene is a deep examination of racist policies that undermine Black homeownership in America. Publishing 1/28/25, but you can pre-order now! bernadetteatuahene.com/plundered/ #PlunderedHomes

Meet Misha White, one of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice’s new Harriet Tubman Fellows! ✨Misha is a law student at Boston University and an advocate for housing, environmental, and racial justice. From protecting tenants and promoting clean transportation to fighting corporate pollution and advancing language justice, her work has always centered communities most impacted by inequality.Growing up in Colorado, Misha witnessed housing become increasingly unaffordable while communities of color faced disproportionate environmental harm. Those experiences shaped her commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, stable housing and a healthy environment.“Housing and a clean environment are human rights.” — Misha WhiteWe’re excited to have Misha join the fight against illegal overassessment and for property tax justice in Detroit. 💛✊🏽#HousingJustice #PropertyTaxJustice #Detroit #HarrietTubmanFellow #CoalitionForPropertyTaxJustice #EnvironmentalJustice

Please join us in welcoming Sydney McArthur to the Coalition for Property Tax Justice as one of our 2026 Harriet Tubman Fellows! ✨ Sydney McArthur is a law student at the University of Michigan Law School and a Harriet Tubman Fellow at the Coalition for Property Tax Justice. Sydney is an aspiring litigation attorney with a strong background in government and political advocacy. Prior to law school, she graduated from George Washington University with degrees in Political Science and Spanish. In her early career, Sydney worked in government and on several senatorial, congressional, and mayoral campaigns, gaining firsthand experience in public service and community advocacy. She is excited to advance the movement for property tax justice in Michigan and beyond through her work with the Coalition. Sydney is passionate about ensuring that communities have access to safe, stable, and equitable housing, and she is eager to support efforts addressing housing and property tax inequities impacting Michigan residents. When asked, “Why is housing justice important to you?”, Sydney had this to say: “Housing injustice is not just an attack on someone’s home — it impacts one’s health, economic stability, safety, and sense of community. A home provides the foundation for all of the rights and liberties we are endowed with. This is why housing justice is so important to me.” #CoalitionForPropertyTaxJustice #BlackHomesMatter

📷 #TaxTalkTuesday: Grades Are In — Part Two (B Grades) The Coalition for Property Tax Justice is continuing to break down our #First100Days Report Card on the Sheffield Administration’s property tax reforms. This week: the letter B. A “B” means partial progress — and while the City has made some important improvements, there’s still more work to do. 📷 Detroit’s Notice of Assessment is now easier to read and includes more information for homeowners. 📷 The City released independent assessment ratio data. 📷 Progress has been made removing LLCs from homeowner-only tax exemptions. But the City is still falling short of full implementation. Assessment data was released late, appeal instructions remain unclear, and homeowners still need better tools and information to navigate the process. 📷 Call Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office at (313) 800-8742 and urge the administration to fully implement the Property Tax Reform Ordinance. #PropertyTaxJustice #Detroit #First100Days #HousingJustice #CoalitionForPropertyTaxJustice

Last Saturday’s Coffee & Stories was a powerful reminder of what community looks like ☕✨ Neighbors came together at Eastside Community Network to share stories, connect around property tax justice, learn about housing resources, and build collective power. We were also honored to hear from Detroit District 7 City Council Member Denzel McCampbell about the importance of organizing and advocacy in our communities. Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and helped make the space so meaningful. We’re building something special together. 💛 #Detroit #CoffeeAndStories #HousingJustice #PropertyTaxJustice #CommunityPower #DetroitOrganizing #EastsideCommunityNetwork

📊 #TaxTalkTuesday: Grades Are In — Part One (A Grade) The Coalition for Property Tax Justice has released our #First100Days Report Card evaluating the Sheffield Administration’s progress on property tax reform—and today, we’re breaking down what an “A” really means. An A = Full Implementation—the highest mark possible. So far, the City has earned an A in one key area: publishing property tax assessment data online each year by February 1. Why does this matter? Public data creates transparency, helps identify overassessed homes, and gives Detroiters the tools they need to file appeals and fight back. It’s a simple step—but one with powerful impact. But one A isn’t enough. Detroit homeowners deserve full implementation across the board. 📞 Take action: Call Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office at (313) 800-8742 and urge the administration to fully implement property tax reform and deliver on the #First100Days plan. #PropertyTaxJustice #Detroit #First100Days #TaxTalkTuesday

Make your voice heard for transparency and accountability in Detroit’s property tax system. We are at 240 calls and pushing to reach 500 📞 Call (313) 800-8742 to support enforcement of the Property Tax Reform Ordinance. This campaign is fighting for clearer Annual Assessment Notices and an independent audit of assessment data, key steps that still have not been fully completed three years after the ordinance passed. Learn more at bit.ly/property-tax-r… #Detroit #PropertyTaxReform #TaxJustice #Accountability #Transparency

West Coast friends—this one’s for you 📣 Join Professor Bernadette Atuahene for a powerful conversation on housing justice, displacement, and the real story behind property tax inequity. Drawing from her book Plundered, she’ll connect the dots between policy, history, and what it takes to repair harm in our communities. 📍 Oakland Public Library – Main Library 🗓 Thursday, May 28 | 6:00–7:30 PM If you’re in the Bay Area, don’t miss this important discussion. Show up, bring a friend, and be part of the movement for housing justice. #Plundered #propertytaxjustice #SaveOurHomes #blackhomesmatter

☕✨ Coffee, community, and powerful conversations. Join us Saturday, May 2 at 10:30 AM at Eastside Community Network for our monthly Coffee & Stories event. This is a space to connect, share your story, and organize for property tax justice alongside neighbors and local leaders. We’re excited to welcome special guest Detroit District 7 City Council Member Denzel McCampbell—trust us, you don’t want to miss this one. Come for the coffee, stay for the movement.
RSVP now at bit.ly/may-coffee-sto…. See you there!

📚 The Forum’s Virtual Book Club is back for Spring 2026! Join them for Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America by @ProfAtuahene—a powerful exploration of how property tax foreclosure, land theft, and discriminatory policies have systematically undermined Black homeownership. 🗓 Every other Thursday
⏰ Sessions at 7 PM ET
📍 Virtual | bit.ly/plunderedbookc…  Upcoming Session:
🗓 Thursday, April 30
📖 Discussion: Part II We kicked off on April 16 with Part I and will continue through the book in upcoming sessions. Interested in joining? sign up here: bit.ly/plunderedbookc… #HousingJustice #PropertyTaxJustice #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment

🚨 Pillar 1: Leadership Matters — and Detroit is falling short. In this clip from our April 10th #First100Days Press Conference, Professor Atuahene breaks it down: the Sheffield Administration received a D on Pillar 1—placing an MMAO-qualified Chief Assessing Officer. There’s been no implementation and no active work. No job posting. No clear plan. And no indication that the current assessor—who is not MMAO certified—will be replaced anytime soon. If Detroit is serious about building a fair, lawful, people-centered property tax system, it starts with qualified leadership. 📞 Call Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office at (313) 800-8742 Tell the administration to replace the current assessor with a qualified assessor and follow through on the #First100Days plan. We deserve better. And we’re not backing down. #PropertyTaxJustice #Detroit #AccountabilityNow

This is a moment for action—not silence. In this clip from our April 10th Press Conference, Professor Atuahene makes it clear: we cannot wait any longer. Detroit homeowners deserve a fair, lawful property tax system—now. 📞 Call Mayor Mary Sheffield’s office at (313) 800-8742 Tell the administration to fully implement the Property Tax Reform Ordinance and deliver on the #First100Days plan. The pressure only works if we all show up. Make the call. Speak up. Demand better. #PropertyTaxJustice #DetroitHomes #TakeAction

Detroiters have carried the burden of illegally inflated property tax assessments for far too long. Fueling displacement, tax foreclosures, and deep mistrust. Since 2017, the Coalition for Property Tax Justice has been fighting for housing justice and against unjust tax assessments. We’ve made real progress, and we’re not stopping. We expect our newly elected mayor and City Council to take clear, measurable steps to make Detroit’s property tax system lawful, and to begin repairing the harm done. check out some of our wins, and learn how you can get involved. Visit our website to take action. ✊🏾🏡 #Detroit #HousingJustice #TaxJustice #PropertyTax #DetroitHomes CommunityPower

This week’s #fromthearchives highlights residential life in Detroit’s historic Black Bottom during the 1950s. Many African Americans migrated from the South for auto jobs but were restricted by housing covenants, concentrating community life along Hastings and St. Antoine Streets and fueling the vibrant cultural scene of Paradise Valley. By the early 1960s, these neighborhoods were demolished and replaced by Lafayette Park and new freeways. In 1959, Paradise Valley was cleared for Interstate 375, part of the Chrysler Freeway, often with as little as 30 days’ notice and minimal relocation support. The legacy of this displacement still echoes today, as Detroit continues to face housing instability and foreclosure challenges rooted in this history of lost neighborhoods and limited access to stable homeownership. Photos courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society #DetroitHistory #BlackHistory #blackhomesmatter

Missed our April 10th #First100Days Press Conference? We’ve got you covered. Hear directly from the leaders driving the fight for property tax justice: • Bernadette Atuahene — Executive Director, Coalition for Property Tax Justice; Professor of Law, USC Gould School of Law • Christopher J. Tyson — President, National Community Stabilization Trust • Justin Hansford — Member, UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; Professor, Howard University School of Law • Betsy Farrington — Attorney, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli, Brennan & Baum LLC We break down our #First100Days Report Card, what’s been done, and what still needs to happen to achieve property tax justice in Detroit. 🎥 Watch the full recording here: youtube.com/watch?v=WGxvgp… Stay informed. Stay engaged. Keep pushing for justice.

offee and Stories Recap ☕️✨ Last Saturday, we gathered in community to honor Kim Hunter, who has been with us since day one of our movement and is now retiring. We also had the privilege of hearing from the Madam Ombudsman of Detroit, the Honorable Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, M.Ed., who shared how she plans to ensure the people’s concerns are heard across the city. Grateful for another powerful morning of community, reflection, and connection. #Detroit #CoffeeAndStories #CommunityVoices #coalitionforpropertytaxjustice #DetroitEvents

CPTJ April 2026 Press Conference x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

TEST of CPTJ April 2026 Press Conference x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Join us next week as we present a 100-day report card on Mayor Sheffield’s administration. We are breaking down the real impact of these first 100 days, lifting up the coalition’s wins, calling out the gaps, and pushing for the accountability our city deserves. Hear from our featured speakers: Betsy Farrington, an attorney at Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan and Baum LLP; Justin Hansford, a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and a professor at Howard Law School; and Christopher Tyson, president of the National Community Stabilization Trust. 📅 April 10 at 11 AM ET 🔗 Register using the link bit.ly/day100press or QR code. Be part of the conversation and help shape what comes next. #Detroit #DetroitCommunity #JusticeForDetroit #First100Days #Accountability @ProfAtuahene

⏳ 72 HOURS. THIS IS IT.We’re just days away from our #First100Days Press Conference — and we need you in the room.We’ll break down the wins, call out what’s still missing, and lay out what must happen next to deliver real property tax justice in Detroit.🚨 This moment matters. Show up. Stay informed. Be part of the movement.RSVP now and don’t miss it.#First100Days #PropertyTaxJustice #DetroitDeservesBetter #CoalitionForPropertyTaxJustice #ActNow

Join us for an important conversation as we take a closer look at the first 100 days of Mayor Sheffield’s administration. We’ll be breaking down where progress has been made, where challenges remain, and how the coalition’s wins and losses shape what comes next for our communities. 📅 April 10 at 11 AM ET 🔗 Register using the link or QR code #Detroit #DetroitCommunity #JusticeForDetroit #First100Days #CommunityAccountability