No excuse for not paying taxes

7/14/08
Supporters of real estate developer Sal DiNardo think he’s being picked on. Why are only his tax deals subject to scrutiny, they ask. Don’t people know what he’s done for Bridgeport?
Indeed, the wave of support for the beleaguered buyer of brownfields has crested in recent weeks, with letters of support and full-page ads in local media. But every time the din recedes, a new instance arises of DiNardo getting out of paying taxes that are supposed to affect everyone equally.
The most recent, following public outcry over tax deals on several of his properties in recent months, concerns the cars he drives. It seems he doesn’t pay taxes on them because his vehicles have dealer plates issued by the state. The only problem is he doesn’t appear to have a car dealership.
He has a company listed by the state Department of Motor Vehicles as a used car lot, but there’s nothing for sale there. It’s just parking spaces for his regular offices. There have been no zoning hearings on the lot in 25 years, so it seems he’s been skating by this way at least that long.
His supporters are welcome to point out the good work DiNardo has done around Bridgeport, but they have to acknowledge this is a problem. People have to pay their taxes — even people who buy up dilapidated properties no one else wants. Taking old factories and getting them back on the tax rolls is not a license to get out of your own obligations.
It’s also a problem for the DMV. Doesn’t anyone keep track of these things?
If dealer plates are issued, shouldn’t they have to be renewed every so often? Is there no one who can catch up on such shenanigans, like determining that vehicle sales are actually taking place on the sites to which dealer plates are issued? We harbor no doubts that DiNardo is not the only one taking advantage of such arrangements.
This isn’t a complicated issue. All the public scrutiny would disappear if DiNardo would agree to play by everyone else’s rules. And the DMV could make it easier for everyone by paying attention to details.