This seems tangential to the NYT article, which is specifically calling out differences in the assessed values of the same type of assets as a function of their

This seems tangential to the NYT article, which is specifically calling out differences in the assessed values of the same type of assets as a function of their actual market value. Particularly they’re comparing houses that are often assessed by the same government entity under what are supposed to be uniformly applied standards. The consistent under assessment of high value homes versus the simultaneous over assessment of low value homes, across a number of different geographical locales would seem to point to some kind of systemic issue. I don’t think we should so quickly dismiss it. And anecdotally, in my area, I see a lot more police patrols in the pricier neighborhoods than the cheaper ones. In most middle class neighborhoods you have speed bumps in the road, the higher end ones get regular police presence to deter speeding so they don’t need to put up with such aesthetic blemishes.