The city should have and could have gone after this a long time ago. Snooze and potentially lose. The press release for Stein's federal tax evasion etc that is hyperlinked to his name is dated Sept. 22, 2004. Here's where the press could have made a call, ringy-dingy, to the city business tax office and asked them if Stein is in arrears on city business taxes and if they are starting foreclosure proceedings on Stein, and when. Then the press could have called the Dept. of Revenue to see how much Stein owes in back city property taxes. Or, just use Hallwatch. Stein's address is listed in the indictment, so easy-peazy. This is what the city's own overpaid various sacred cow, untouchable departments are supposed to be doing, so how does this whole process get so easily dismantled, so much so that the press is the best city tax collection agent? "Pay to not pay." Stein is a well-known, one of many on that list, local Democratic fundraiser and contributor. He also puts millions in powder up his nose, but he's clean now, thank God, because the man is a genius. But he's still untouched until four years later, when his assets are in bankruptcy disposition. The city will get its share as soon as it forecloses on assets and the resolution occurs, but waiting so long is foolish, because who's to say that the matter isn't resolved and all parties who put their claims on Stein's assets as creditors who are behind the city's already got theirs? That's how the city screws itself so the Democratic City Committee can get a few thousand for its party (and parties) here and there. This is fairly old school, and even Obama didn't want to pay into it with street money. Time to clean this up, don't you agree? It makes Democrats look like fools who can't manage law and money. What do YOU guys think we should do to clean this up? Certainly, the best law firms in the city complain about this and have ideas. Perhaps the journalists could ask them to go on the record?

This is a very good blurb you did with the links, also. I know you don't really want to become like a first year associate on collections law and foreclosure, but there's no other way for you guys to cover city revenue, the process that governs it, and the politics that interferes with it. By the time you are done covering overdue business taxes and overdue property taxes, you'll be ready to make partner.