It was a few weeks ago, and it was a day like most days. I was having my first cup of coffee, settling in at my desk, and my eye landed on a stack of mail. On top of the stack was an envelope, and on the envelope was my name, hand written. I didn't see a return address in the corner, so I flipped the envelope over to see who had sent it. Nothing. Two stamps, and a Juneau, Alaska postmark. That was it.
To fully appreciate the contents of the envelope we'll need to wind the clock back to 2006. Sarah Palin is running for governor of the state of Alaska. She's running against former governor Tony Knowles, a Democrat. The DNC, unlike John McCain or the Republican party, decided that it would be to their advantage to vet this unknown Republican candidate for governor. When the McCain campaign "vetted" Palin they ended up with a couple Google articles, and a YouTube video. When the Democrats were finished with her, they had a 63-page document. There were lots of interesting things in the document, including this.
Pg. 48/63 Palin Declined to Appear in Ads for A Candidate Because He Had Not Paid His Property Taxes.In 2004, it came to light that Republican Rep. Vic Kohring owed the borough $2,277 in unpaid property taxes on property he owns off Knik-Goose Bay Road, according to borough records. "That bothered former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin enough that she declined a campaign request to do a pro-Kohring TV commercial. As a former mayor, Palin said, it made her uncomfortable to back someone with unpaid taxes when the city relies on property taxes." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 10/28/04]
Recently, Sarah Palin gave an interview to Bill O'Reilly and said her favorite vacation spot was "The middle of nowhere at our cabin in Petersville," Alaska.
And now we get to the envelope. Inside was an unsigned letter which read:
Todd and Sarah are now millionaires, but they shirk their responsibility to pay local property taxes.
Attached are printed copies of Matanuska-Susitna Borough tax assessments from the public website (address shown at the bottom) regarding two lake frontage properties the Palins own in the Petersville Hills. Safari Lake is a gorgeous location, with stunning views of Mt. McKinley and the surrounding terrain.Please note that two parcels total almost 20 acres and are assessed for a total value of $30,000. Also, there is a $0 value regarding any buildings on the property.
Any photos or visual inspection of the properties would clearly reveal that there are two large "cabins" on the property that are well built, and include thousands of dollars worth of improvements and amenities. The buildings are clearly nicer than many people's homes.
Also on the property is a large shop for snowmachines and four-wheelers.
These buildings have been on the property for years now - yet the Palins have done nothing to correct the assessment.
This photo, recently obtained by themudflats.net, shows one of the buildings on the property. It was taken about two years ago.
There was another reference to property taxes in that vetting document from 2006. It talked about an inner struggle Palin had with whether or not to support a property tax cap. She talked to the Anchorage Daily News.
Pg. 15/63 Palin Called Herself "Such a Weasel" For Not Having a Firm Stand on the Property Tax Cap.
Palin said she has declined requests by Tax Cap Yes to speak in favor of the initiative. Yet, she said, she doesn't object to her name continuing to be listed on the group's Web site among 10 current or former government officials -- half from Mat-Su -- in support of the initiative. Palin acknowledged that she was sounding quite the politician. 'I am so sorry I'm such a weasel,' she said."
[Anchorage Daily News, 10/8/00]
Follow Jeanne Devon ("AKMuckraker") on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mudflats
It seems to me that the person who wrote this spent about ten minutes to find a picture of the house and find a something that Mrs. Palin said that would sound damning. Other than that no real work was done. Again, until some more work is done on this, it isn't a story. Just something that on the face sounds bad.
Alaska is pretty much on the "honor system" as far as reporting property improvement go, and it speaks volumes about Palin's character that she tried to dodge property taxes of only a couple hundred. So much for "honor". I bet she is hiding a lot of other expenses.
I guess that means Letterman's joke writers are SURE to see it NOW...
Wahhhh!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/04/us/AP-US-Palin-Property-Taxes.html?_r=2
Maybe they think they'll spare AKM the Attack of the Trolls?
Hmmm? Since Paylin Payme was a former mayor and should understand the basics of revenue collection in any town, she would know how the assessor's office works as well as AK law. So what's your excuse grifter?
decided to report the story as well. How about the other National Media..?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PALIN_PROPERTY_TAXES?SITE=JRC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
And Van Flein incorrectly says it is not the property owner's responsibility to report the structures! I hope he will have to explain that to the Alaska State Bar.
"But local assessor Dave Dunivan says owners are required by state law to report any omissions or errors in their tax assessments."
http://ap.juneauempire.com/pstories/state/ak/20100204/558852046.shtml
Oh .. and about the retarded drama, let's remind everyone that Sarah was pretty INSENSITIVE to laugh at a 'joke' on the air about a Breast Cancer survivor.
I am sure there are many families who don't think that is so funny!