Letters: Inherited California properties shouldn’t get tax breaks

San Francisco Inheritor Demands Tax Break While Tens of Millions Struggle, Say Critics.

Critics are piling on a bill that would exempt inherited homes from property tax increases, calling it unfair and undeserved. The bill has been criticized by those who claim that the wealthy should not be given preferential treatment while tens of millions of Americans struggle to make ends meet.

Anthony Stegman from San Jose expressed frustration with the idea that someone who inherits a home worth millions can claim that property taxes "wiped them out." Stegman suggests that people in his situation are lucky and should leave it at that.

Meanwhile, Kathryn Tomaino, a Realtor from Los Altos, argues that passage of Proposition 19 has led to low information voters in the state and is calling for a neutral third party to write the synopses of propositions in voter pamphlets and on the ballots.

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San Jose resident Manuel Prado is expressing concern about mandated reporter training that lacks efficiency. He believes professionals should be better equipped to identify child abuse and neglect cases.

Housing crisis leaves families with no choice but to make trade-offs.

The rising cost of living in San Jose has led many families to choose between losing their homes or making difficult choices about basic necessities such as childcare, healthcare, and food.

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Congress member Genevieve Stoner is calling for unity among members of Congress against President Trump's controversial policies. She argues that by surrendering their moral compass, lawmakers are allowing the president to strip away their powers.

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I'm trying to visualize this whole inherited home thing... imagine a big Venn diagram with two circles: people who inherit homes worth millions and those who can barely afford rent . For the former group, it might be easy to say they're "lucky" when property taxes are low . But what about all the others struggling to pay bills? Shouldn't we try to find a middle ground instead of making them feel even more left out?

omg, can u believe the news? so like, these people who inherit homes worth millions and get a tax break while others are struggling to make ends meet is literally not fair . I was talking to my friend Emily from school the other day and she told me that her family has been dealing with this same issue since her dad lost his job last year. they had to choose between paying rent or buying food for their little brother .

and what's even crazier is that some people think it's okay because it's "lucky" to have inherited a house? like, no way! my friend Chris from Cali told me that his cousin actually said that because of Proposition 19, he got a tax break on his inherited home. and now he's just sitting on this huge amount of money .

and can we talk about the fact that our congress members are literally failing at their jobs? like, Genevieve Stoner is trying to call out President Trump's actions but it's hard when some people in Congress are actually voting with him . anyway, gotta say, this news is really making me think about how we need to do better as a society .

I mean, come on... This whole inherited home tax break thing is just ridiculous. I get it, people want to keep their homes and all that, but millions of Americans can't even afford a decent roof over their heads let alone a mansion worth millions. It's just not right. And then you've got these rich folks like Anthony Stegman who are like "well, I'm lucky, what more do I need?" Like, dude, it's not about luck, it's about fairness.

And don't even get me started on the trade-offs families have to make due to the housing crisis. It's heartbreaking to hear that people are choosing between healthcare and losing their homes. That's just cruel. And then you've got these politicians like Genevieve Stoner who are calling out Trump's policies, but it feels like they're not doing enough to actually help the people.

As for Proposition 19, I think Kathryn Tomaino makes a valid point about low info voters. But can we please also talk about how we're supposed to inform these voters in the first place? It's not like there are neutral third parties out there explaining everything to us. And meanwhile, our kids are suffering because of mandated reporter training that's just not doing its job... it's a mess.

I don't think it's that bad for the wealthy to get a tax break on inherited homes... I mean, someone's gotta keep the real estate market going in SF right? And let's be real, if they're gonna inherit a multi-million dollar home, maybe they should've thought of that before they spent all their cash on avocado toast and Tesla cars . But seriously, I get where the critics are coming from - it does feel like some people are getting preferential treatment. Still, can't we just let the market speak?

I'm so worried about this inherited home bill . I mean, I get it, tax breaks are important and all that, but when you're talking about people who have a multi-million dollar house just because of circumstance... it's just not right . My friend's cousin (yes, really!) is going through something similar - she inherited her parents' mansion from her late grandma, and now she's having to deal with the same tax hikes everyone else has to pay. It's like, why shouldn't they contribute like everyone else?

And can we talk about how this bill might be perpetuating the cycle of inequality in our society? I mean, when people say "I'm just lucky" or "it could've been worse," it feels like they're not taking ownership of their privilege. It's time for us to take a hard look at who has access to these kinds of benefits and make sure everyone is on the same page .

I'm literally shocked by these bills and laws being passed in San Francisco! Someone inherits a multi-million dollar home and they're trying to get out of paying property taxes? That just doesn't sit right with me. Like, what's fair about that? And it's not like they worked for it - they were just born into it, so why should they get a free pass? At the same time, I feel for the families who are struggling to make ends meet and can't afford basic necessities. It's just not right that people in those situations have no choice but to make tough decisions between losing their homes or going hungry. Something needs to change, like these new laws and trainings... we need to find a way to balance fairness with compassion!

I'm really confused about this whole inherited homes tax break thing . I mean, I get where they're coming from, but it just seems like a big ol' giveaway to people who are already in a pretty good spot financially . Meanwhile, families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet are left to deal with rising housing costs and basic necessities being pushed out the door . It's not fair, imo . And can we talk about how low info voters ended up because of Prop 19? That just seems like a recipe for disaster . We need to make sure that everyone has access to clear information about what they're voting on. Maybe neutral third parties could help with that . It's all so frustrating, you know?

I just can't believe this . The rich get richer and the poor pay more . Like, what even is the point of having a tax break when there are people struggling to put food on the table? I've been tracking the property values in San Francisco, it's crazy how fast they're rising . The median home price just hit $2.5M and it's only going up .

According to data from Zillow, the top 10% of homeowners in SF own over 70% of all properties . That means if Prop 19 passes, those people are basically getting a free pass on paying property taxes . Meanwhile, 63% of Californians say they're worried about losing their homes due to rising costs .

I also saw some stats from the Census Bureau that show over 1 in 5 children in SF live below the poverty line . It's heartbreaking. We need to find a way to address this housing crisis ASAP .

I'm so done with these inherited home tax breaks . Like, I get it, some people are lucky and do inherit these massive homes, but do we really need a law that benefits the 1% at the expense of everyone else? It's just not right when you've got tens of millions struggling to make ends meet.

And don't even get me started on Proposition 19 . I mean, come on, can't we have some basic voter education around here? Low info voters are a problem, but neutral third party synopses aren't gonna fix it . We need real change, not just Band-Aid solutions.

And what's up with the housing crisis anyway? Families are being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and putting food on the table. It's like, can't we prioritize affordability here?

I guess I'm just tired of all these power players prioritizing their own interests over the rest of us . Congress needs to step up its game and start fighting for what's right, not just serving as lapdogs to whoever happens to be in office .

I'm thinking this bill that would exempt inherited homes from property tax increases is pretty messed up . I mean, some people might be lucky enough to inherit a home worth millions, but let's not forget that tens of millions of Americans are struggling just to put food on the table. It's like they're saying, "You know what? We'll give you a free pass, but don't expect us to help with the rest." That's just not right .

And I'm all for people getting a break, but not at the expense of those who need it most. What if someone inherits a home and they're already living paycheck to paycheck? They shouldn't have to worry about paying property taxes on top of everything else . It's time for some fairness in this bill

I think it's crazy how some people in San Francisco are trying to get a tax break for inheriting homes while others are struggling to afford basic necessities. I mean, come on ! It's like they're living in a different world. And what really gets me is that some of these people are actually saying that those who inherit homes are "lucky" and should just be grateful for it . Meanwhile, we have families losing their homes because they can't afford the rent or mortgage payments . It's not fair at all. And to make matters worse, there are people arguing that property tax increases are like a "wiped them out" situation . I just don't think it's right that some people get special treatment while others are left to fend for themselves.

And have you seen the state of mandated reporter training? It seems like they're not doing a great job identifying child abuse and neglect cases . That's really concerning. We need better training so that professionals can do their jobs effectively.

I also think it's interesting that some people are trying to pass Proposition 19, but they're not addressing the root of the problem – affordable housing . It seems like they just want to give tax breaks without actually fixing the issue. And then there's this thing about Congress and President Trump... I don't really understand why some lawmakers can't speak up against policies that are harmful to the country .

Lastly, it's sad to hear that an Admiral had to retire because they questioned President Trump's orders . That's a huge sacrifice for someone who is just doing their job. We need more people like that who will stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the president.

Ugh, can you believe this? Rich folks wanting tax breaks while people are struggling to even pay rent Meanwhile, I was living off my parents' basement when I was trying to make ends meet. And good luck with Proposition 19, it's like they're not even taking the time to explain it to voters What's wrong with having a neutral third party? It's not too much to ask for some clarity, right?

omg I'm literally shook by all these news stories! Like, can't we just get some fairness and equality for everyone? This bill about tax breaks for inherited homes is so whack... like how are they even going to pay property taxes on a million-dollar house? And then there's this mandated reporter training that failed some kids... it's heartbreaking . But you know what's even more concerning - the fact that families have to choose between basic necessities because of the rising cost of living. Like, how are we supposed to support each other when we're all struggling at the same time? We need unity and change!

I'm low-key shocked that some folks in San Francisco think they should get a tax break just because they inherited a fancy home . Like, I get it, it can be tough to adapt to a new life, but tens of millions are struggling just to put food on the table. It's not fair to say "oh, my inheritance wiped me out" when others are trying to make ends meet while living paycheck to paycheck . And what's up with this bill anyway? Is it even worth debating?

I just don't get it - people who inherit millions and have a huge house think they're entitled to no property tax increase? Like, hello, your grandparents worked hard for that money. Meanwhile, normal folks are struggling to make ends meet and can't afford to pay their taxes on time. It's like the system is rigged against them. And then you have parents like Manuel Prado who want better training for mandated reporters so they can protect kids... meanwhile, we're still dealing with people losing their homes over housing prices. It feels like there are two different America's here - one where the rich get richer and one where the rest of us are just trying to survive.

I don't get why people who inherit huge homes think they deserve a tax break . Like, I get it, it can be super stressful managing that kind of wealth, but tens of millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet and you're gonna give your rich cousin a free pass? It just doesn't add up. Where's the logic in that? And btw, what makes you think "wiped them out" is even a valid reason for tax exemption anyway? Sounds like they want special treatment just because they got lucky with their inheritance .

It's truly disconcerting to see affluent individuals like those inheriting multi-million dollar homes advocating for tax breaks while millions of Americans struggle to put food on the table. The notion that they're "lucky" and should be grateful is not only insensitive but also perpetuates a culture of privilege. Meanwhile, experts like Manuel Prado who are working tirelessly to address child abuse and neglect cases need more support and resources, not just empty platitudes. It's high time we had an open and honest conversation about the housing crisis and its far-reaching consequences on families' well-being

this bill is just another example of how the system is rigged against those who need it most people struggling to make ends meet are already shouldering a heavy burden, and now they're being asked to give even more? it's like the government is trying to say that those who inherit wealth are somehow "lucky" while others are just plain unlucky doesn't feel fair to me