1
2
Vacant Land or Vacant Tax Policy?
#,$' ).)''1).,1
$+#)!#@$'#$*+!$%!%'$%').$'AB1???
*#)(1A.)"!!(("!('#(&*/$*).%'(#!$,+#(=($,8')$!>3))
+#)!#,')-
(*!)5*%$#!#1)$,#',$*!)'$')$+!$%)1$'(!!)
)$($"$#!(,$<()%*!)$'()'.)$7)")"' )18$)#!#1## (,)$!')'$"
$)*!'(#*.'(*'#'(($#(1*(),#)("$()#3
+#)$!$)',(.(!5('+#$#$"()(,$!(!.$#!)
#,)%)!3
$#('+)+(()
#)
'!(())-(
5$#*(#"-$
#!*(#*!#!*(5
)-('1!+#
'1!+#
!(()$($).0
"$')$($).0
#+*!
$'
"$')$)
!(()$)
5(5
#+*!3
#+*!3
*(#((%)!
5!#(1'(1)$'(1')$'(1"$#*)$'(1)35
?F33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333ACF333333333333333333333333333333333333333333344443343334433444ECF3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333@??F
$)))+#)$*
'!(0$#('+)+('$#)$)-()$!+.1).(!!.'$#)
$)$()-(2#)1
$'1#%)!3#')
1)#('&*)'#)2
1*)(*''#)!.%$ ).(%*!)$'(
#
#$,#'(3#')#!-1))'+#**#($+'#"#)('+(1#(*%%!(("!!)/#8(
+#<#$*)$"))(#(()($!3$"$',!'1*()%$')$#$+'.)/#8(')')6
#)B
5'$"
#!*($#!.1)%')"#)*!#$'()$'*!)*%$#)
#5
#+*!
$'
5(5
*(#((%)!
5*!#(=#$,'$#/(%)!>1!#(1'(1)$'(1')$'(1"$#*)$'(1)35
#')#!-1#)'
$'#$'%)!()-1$#!.
#')-3(2
#((%*!)$#.)-#,.)%'$)'$")3
'(*%$%%$')*#).$'#,*(#(((1##,$*(#$''(#)(1.!$,'#)$!#
=('#)$(1$()("*()$*)$#!()).$
#&*#))(>3
!"#)(*'#(%',!.$'##)*($!#3$"$'9,'$*(#:$!#.'.
(%*!)$'(3C
'$"$)('#)#$!$..'#';,)';!#%$!!*)'(3D
'((*%$#)$""$#(3($*'(').)*'!$#&*!!.3
##)+/(#+*!(0*(#((()$
1#$)(%*!)*%$#1$'$'1'($*'(3
*($''*%)$#.)-#
1($#' )!*(1#!"#)#!$$%$!5*#)#
"$#!!$)')-(3
"%!(#!$,'()-($+'!!3
!"#)("$()%$+')..%'$+#)/#8(+#))#'(()$"))
"#"*"$()$!+##"$'-%#(+'(=33)(>3
($*'(##)*($'"$)'*'!'($'$*(#1*(#((1)1!+#"$'$')*'3
http://www.commongroundnyc.org/vacant.htm
1
A"%$3$';*%!$(;A?3%
3
4
Real Estate and Business Cycles: Henry George's Theory of the Trade Cycle by Fred E. Foldvary
Economists estimate 22-40% of annual income comes from increases in the value of Natural Resources. None of this is
earned; it simply increases due to population growth and inflation.
5
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tax_vacant_unused_land_to_return_its_value_to_the_community
6
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/a_new_form_of_capitalism_geonomics
5
6
7
8
9
10
,# )%*'&)++ &% *%#,
**,+&&9F
)%*'&)++ &% $')&-$%+* %2+ +) )&,'* &
'&'#6
@ %)# ',# 4 . %2+* )&$ )&
&%&$ %*& #)+,)%*7
@)%*'&)++ &%,*)*4.&%2+)&$),+)-#
+ $*%%%*+07
@ )&')+0 &.%)* % -#&')*4 .& %2+ )&$
%)* ')&')+0 -#,* % %)# 0 +)%*'&)++ &%
$')&-$%+*7,%2+*)+)+ &%#&)+,*&
&)+*%2 ) *4-#, %*)$&*+#0)# 1,'&%+
&$'#+ &% & +)%*'&)++ &% ')&!+* %4 +)&)4 .&,# ) *4
%+,)##04 +& $+ + + &%# &*+*7 +/ &% #% .&,# '))# +& +/&%' +#4*,*, # %*&)- #*4*+&)$).&,#)*,#+ %#**&%&$ *+&)+ &%,+ /
*,''#0&#%7
)*%+&##*-%-)%%&, *+&) ##0+&'0
&) ',# +)%*'&)++ &%5 %4 * &)$) & + % ,))%+ +7 &-)%&) ) - + ',+ + % )%+
*0$'&* ,$ + % -)* +04 <&, .&,# - +& ) &-)
DFE ) +& &-) + &*+* & ),%% % + +) %*7= * *
#)#0,%* #4%&*#&%.0+&.)/'# % %.0
## ') -+ ++$'+* + ',# +)%*'&)++ &% - ,#+ $+#0
#%%+"%&-)0&-)%$%+*4. % $'&*
+/*7
,+%)#)-%,*)%&++%*.) +)5+0),*,##0+&&# ++#4* '&%&+&&+)%*4%
*,!+ +& + . $ & '&# + %* .& )* &,+* + ) *)- A77 #%0B7 &% &%;* ) # +)%* +
*0*+$ ) -* %& *,* 05 %*+4 ## &*+*4 %#, % %+)*+ &% &% %+%**4 ) ' )&$ ) - )&$ -#&'$%+ % *++ &% )*7 ,)'#,* #% -#,* - % ,* +& ,% * %+&%
77;*+)&4%+&%&%+,/+%* &%*.##7G
,% %&',# +)%*'&)++ &% *&$'# +%* + % %% #,%)+" %4%%&&%*&,#
&-)* $'# 0 +7&.-)4&+&%#&)-%,*++&$)&$+/*%*,* *4%%&+)&$+&##*&)
)*4+&%+) ,+ &%)&$#*+++ - +0 *')+ ,#)#0-&#+ #7
%+&-$)GEEM,+H
+,%)# # +0&)%/ '+*?. )),)&$#)&')+0)%*)/*%&)+
&) %/*8 * # +6
From a peak level of $884 million in 2007…spurred by low interest rates and strong demand for
commercial investment properties, Urban Tax receipts…are projected to decline (83.3%) in 2009 to
$148 million.
$ %++9* % %+*&,)&+DFF7L ## &%,+# %LH7HN %!,*+G0)*9
% +&' & ++4 + * # *++ ++ * '#,$$+ % -#, ,) % + ,*+7I &)$)
)&&"#0% +0 &,% #$% - **"04 .& *+ $+* ++ + &.%* *&$ .&)+
$&)+%
4*)'+#0*"&)%&,%+ %&+-#,%,*&+*')&')+ *7
),**8-%+&, +*++7J*+ ##/'+*DF ## &%&)++#%+ )*#%-%*+
)#*++-#&'$%+###*')+7K
F,$)&,**+, **&. %+ # +0&'+,) %#%-#,*+&,%+)%*'&)++ &%%&,%)6
++'6>>...7,)%+&&#*7&)>*):)#/+P-#,O'+,)% %))) *&%;*&&"4<#*&&)+,%=
G++'6>>...7 %7&$>*):(PO...7-+' 7&)NG*$ +7'3&)$P
H++'6>>...7$+7 %&>$+>,+>%&-GEEM7+$8G
I++'6>>*&%-%,**7&$>GEEL>FG>FM>+8$+*8)#8*++8(,%)0>
J++'6>>...7%0 #0%.*7&$>&' % &%*>GEEL>FG>FE>GEEL8FG8FEC$+C*"*C&)C*)C*) CC,+C*(,%7+$#
K++'6>>*&%-%,**7&$>GEEL>FG>FM>+8$+*8)#8*++8(,%)0>
&/ !$3-&(*'-,!.&+(-$,!'&$!%+1,&', *.!,!%;, !+,!%, 5
3 !%('+ '& , '+ / ' &!, , %'+, 1 '/&!& (*'(*,1 $'& , -+ & ,*!&
$!&+3+/$$+, *!.*+/ '&!,/ &', *(',&,!$*!.*+*!, -++&,*!&+!&+,6/'-$
%'*+,$3&'-$-&, $', -,&',-**&,$1-&1,'$$+&*+5*#!&+&
'&+,!'&(*!!&'-$!*,,'%++,*&+!,3&*'*%'&$-0,!'&,'';'&, ,&
"-+,,'%,, + !,!&.$-', $&<*'= '-*1 '-*5
'(&$!+,'*,'!+,$!&#+
'$$'/!&$!+,!+1&'%&+0 -+,!.3-,+*.+++%($!&', !.*+&-%*''*&!2,!'&+&'/*'&!2!&, ,, *-!,+', *, $'&,''-+3/ !$
/+*.,'(*'!,*'%'-*!&!.!-$(*'-,!.,!.!,!+;"-+,+'%%'&*'-&$!.+5
,,(4::///51'-,-5'%:(*'!$7-+*I'-*'%%'&/$, @:-
6**, **,.!'++ '/!&, (*'$%+/!, ,0!&.&,$',+$++, &
-!$,6-('&$',+!& !$$( !3&**,1
'+ !&&,30-,!.!*,'*', &*1'*'-&,!'&'%*!6
,,(4::'-*'%%'&/$, 5'*:5
,,(4::///5(*'*++5'*:'&'%1:'&'AD5( (6
4CF++,-!+5& !+,'*!$*.!/5
,,(4::///5+ $#& 5'*:6 (-$!,!'& '-+'*$$/*!,!&+'&&1
&*1'*3!&$-!& !++,6+$$!&'&'%!+''#'$$,!%38*'*++&
'.*,193&/'*#+'&'!+%3&*, ! ,+5
,,(4::///5 &*1'*5'*:6+, +!,+1+31'-
-&*+,&'&'%!+<&!,'+&?, .,'
-$$3!, *=5
,,(4::///5''-&!$5'*:+ '/'5( (6'-&!$''*!+,
*&!2,!'&+!*,'*1
,,(4::///5$'-*$&5'*:6 '-*
&%(!&.',+%'*)-!,$
!+,*!-,!'&', &$-+, ,*
*,1, / '$'%%-&!,1
<&$&=5
,,(4::///5(*'+(*$!'*&!5'%:6$!'*&!$$',!&!,!,!.,'*($&*$1$$,0+/!, +!&$,0'&EDH'*'-&$-+3, ,/'-$*!++%- %'&1+-**&,%, '+3&
-&,0(*'-,!.,!.!,1/ !$!+'-*!& '*!&$&'*+(-$,!'&5
,,(4::%+'&&15'*:6*'++'*+'&&1?++!,3*-$1, *,+,$!.!&-, '*!,1'&'*!+%&&$-&$1+!+5
,,(4::///5%('5'*:*>,!$+5+(7!IDC6.*$,!%$1&/$$6
*+* ((*+'&*'%',,,*!&*3& ,,&?+'*'- *+!&,
,,(4::///5'(&/+5'%:*,!$+:*,!&66'&'%!6'$!,!616',,6
#*6AGBCAF6CCG5 ,%$6
+!,!&$$1,!%'*'!+,*,1!&/'*#
,,7*?+ '/!,%! ,/'*#5
Common Ground – NYC
415 East 52nd Street, New York City, NY 10022
Concerned
about High
Taxes?
http://www.commongroundnyc.org/
http://groups.google.com/group/common-ground-nyc
Rights to the Products of Earth for All, and Rights to the Products of Labor for Each.
"###!##!""% $
!#" # # !# #" !"$!") ## %$ " '$"% !# # #
! " ! ! & ! # %"##+ !!) & ! ## #
!$!#'"!)#)&#)#$"#%$
#! #$! !"$!" # ( ! ""# %!# "!%"+ ! ( # $# ! ! $"#) $#) %!#( "$"#
&!+
!$ %" !"##" !# # ! "%#!"##%!!#(""""#"#&!#!$!
"$!!#%$!!#!$!$#%"$!#!$"
##"!!#(%$#"+
!$-"#!$"!#&"##*
!##%$!#"#!%#!"!!#(
$("!!#"##!#%$#$!
"$!"/+!.&#!.0
%#'")"")".$")!")!")%#!")!()#+
$""#%!#"!%"&#%$!%$/+$#0
!$,"#!$+
Common Ground-USA Membership Information
National Membership (includes local chapter membership, where available) brings you -- voting rights; annual subscription to
GroundSwell, Insights, and the Letter Lobby kits, with research reports, sample letters, and tips on how to influence law and public policy
on major social, economic, and political issues; opportunity to attend annual Georgist conventions. The local NYC Chapter brings you
membership in the online discussion group, regular meetings, local action steps, and campaigns.
For an online form, go to http://commonground-usa.net/cgjoin.htm, or fill out the following and send a check:
Name(s) ________________________ ________________________________ __________________________
Address __________________________________________ City ________________ State ____ Zip ________
E-mail ____________________________ Phone (Day) ____________ (Night) _____________ Fax ________
[ ] Individual Membership
[ ] Each Additional Family Membership
[ ] Donor membership
[ ] Benefactor membership
[ ] Letter Lobby only
[ ] GroundSwell Magazine only
Total Contribution
_____ Additional copies of CG-USA brochure
[ ] Information on books and literature
$36.00
$12.00
$75.00
$100.00
$20.00
$15.00
$______
N/C
N/C
Please make check payable to Common Ground-USA,
and mail to: Sue Walton, Membership Chair
Common Ground-USA, P.O. Box 57
Evanston, IL 60204 Phone: (847) 475-0391
For additional information on Common Ground-NYC, contact: Scott Baker,
President, Common Ground-NYC, [email protected]
http://www.commongroundnyc.org/
http://groups.google.com/group/common-ground-nyc
Rights to the Products of Earth for All, and Rights to the Products of Labor for Each.
# $(
"! $!
-"."" $-
.$!,#"
#)
-
!/
&!#
! )" # $&%" !!"
#) &! & *
!"
#1312"$#"'$#
!$#)
$#! &
# !& !$)
&"&&$ ,#&
"
,)
0 )!$
&"!$&"
")0++$
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz