The New York Times, June 11, 2020: Opinion | The Scandal of the Predatory City
I coined the term “predatory cities” to describe urban areas where public officials systematically take property from residents and transfer it to public coffers, intentionally or unintentionally violating domestic laws or basic human rights.
The current pandemic has created fertile ground for predatory cities to sprout. With local businesses shuttered, unemployment skyrocketing, and many people unable to pay their rent and mortgage payments, COVID-19 has brutalized local economies. Michigan’s Treasury Department estimates 2020 tax revenues could plummet by $1 billion to $3 billion, while New York State has projected a revenue shortfall of more than $13 billion. Although many cities must slash budgets to ensure their financial survival, COVID-19 is also intensifying the need for essential, yet expensive, social services.
