Photo by @mjb.

The District pulled in $8.7 million during its annual auction of properties with delinquent tax bills, reports Michael Neibauer, including a $4 million surplus because there were several properties up for sale which drew extra interest from investors. (That includes at least 21 properties which Douglas Development, Corp. will no longer be able to illegally plaster advertisements over.) That surplus is a good thing, and not just because the city could use as much money as it can get right now. After all, $4 million is probably enough to cover the loss should a court rule that the city can’t constitutionally impose a tax on businesses inside Union Station.