Death and Taxes

For years, humans grappled with church v. state. But in these not-so-war-faring times, we turn our attention to church v. real estate. At least when it comes to taxes. Hamtramck is struggling with a little-known federal law called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act. What it means is that the city does not collect taxes from churches, mosques, temples or any other religious institution. And if they wind up in a prime business district, as is the case in Ham Town, that's a revenue problem. [Hamtramck Review]