In this case not reading was the correct call, since this article just made a bunch of people on HN less informed. I look forward to the echoes of this showing up in every future HN thread on housing prices. I should save the debunkers for future reference.

Or, conversely, its better that the city is extracting those taxes for services instead of it being straight profit for landlords. Lowering taxes would not lower rent charged, it'd just be more money in the pocket of landlords.

if taxes were lower, it's possible landlords would rent for less to make the same marginal dollar.