GOOSE AND THE GANDER

Bill Pulte, of the Pulte Homes family who is now the Trump-appointed director of the federal Housing and Finance Agency, recently created some waves when he accused Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, from Michigan, of claiming a homestead tax exemption on both a residence in this and another state, which would result in lower property tax rates. Pulte turned his allegation, which is questionable, over to the attorney general who has the Justice Department investigating. Trump, in turn, used the claim of “fraud” to fire Cook, whom he wanted to replace with someone more aggressive in cutting interest rates. Cook is now battling the issue in court. Now we learn, first reported in September by Reuters, that Bill Pulte’s father Mark and stepmother Julie have been guilty since 2020 of claiming both their house in Bloomfield Township, which is now rented out, and a residence in Boca Raton, Florida, reportedly purchased in 2016 for $4.25 million, as their primary residences. When brought to the attention of Bloomfield officials, the news service said the Michigan homestead tax exemption was immediately removed on the property here, and a bill for revised taxes, interest and any penalties was on its way.