Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Guest editorial by “funnelcake.”

So the Enquirer does a story on the County getting ready to sell of delinquent real estate taxes to collection agencies.  Good job.  The public gets a heads up on what may happen to them if they are behind on taxes. 

Article here.

Hamilton County, being as reasonable as they are, will not sell delinquent real estate tax debt to collection agencies if have made arrangements to pay.

The Enquirer also throws in this saucy bit “See who owes delinquent taxes”.  Hey, who can’t help but check on the neighbors right?  It leads to his page here.

But what is that foot note at the bottom?

The Enquirer wouldn’t be so cold as to out people who are behind on their real estate taxes, but are responsible & conscientious enough to have made payment plan arrangements with the county would they?

A little bit of search & ta-dah!

Photo courtesy of here.

Yes.  The Enquirer is publicly outing those who have made payment plans!

Now since Hamilton County is publishing a public notice list of those who’s debts will be sold at auction, it does make some sense to put them out there (heck, some people may not even know about it & would appreciate the alert).

But what service does the Enquirer provide by publicly humiliating those who are working on payment plans to settle their real estate debt?

Admittedly, for some internet aficionados, looking up such information is a novel task.  But it’s a little different with the major paper in town serves it up on a silver platter for all to gawk at.

How hard would it have been for the Enquirer to have removed those Payment Plan records from their database of shame?

Thank you for reading (and printing from) The Cincinnati Beacon.