The Region : New Metro Rail Tax Assessments Stand

Superior Court Judge Warren Deering refused to block the first of more than $255 million in new tax assessments on downtown commercial property designed to help pay for the first 4.4-mile segment of the Los Angeles Metro Rail. But spokesmen for a coalition of nearly 40 property owners battling tax increases of up to 1,000% on property within a half mile of proposed Metro Rail stations said they were heartened by the Southern California Rapid Transit District’s pledge not to issue construction bonds for the project until their lawsuit is resolved. “We didn’t lose, because they confirmed what we wanted to hear--the money will be set aside until the case is decided,” group spokesman Sam Rubinfeld said. “When I have my day in court, I know I’m going to win.” Property owners claim the RTD tax hikes, assessed at 30 cents per square foot based on benefits that will theoretically accrue to businesses near subway stops, are unconstitutional because they were given little opportunity to vote on them.