WHAT IS A TAX LIEN - Tax Taking and why must it be advertised?

For Details - please see https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tax-lien-foreclosure-informational-outline 

People who own real property have to pay property taxes. The government uses the money that these taxes generate to pay for schools, public services, libraries, roads, parks, and the like. Typically, the tax amount is based on a property's assessed value. If you have a mortgage on your home, the loan servicer might collect money from you as part of the monthly mortgage payment to later pay the property taxes. The servicer pays the taxes on the homeowner's behalf through an escrow account. But if the taxes aren't collected and paid through this kind of account, the homeowner must pay them directly.

When homeowners don't pay their property taxes, the overdue amount becomes a lien on the property. A lien is a claim against your property to ensure you'll pay the debt; it effectively makes the property act as collateral for the debt. All states have laws that allow the local government to sell a home through a tax sale process to collect delinquent taxes. Accordingly, homeowners in Massachusetts who fail to make timely payments of property taxes could lose their home after a tax taking.  In most cases, you'll get some time after the taking to get current on the overdue amounts before losing ownership of the property.

Why must it be advertised in the paper?   It is a requirement of MA State Law - Tax Takings in Massachusetts - Before a taking, the collector must give you at least a 14-day advance notice by serving it on you or publishing it and post the notice in two or more public places. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 60, § 53). The city or town then gets title to the property, subject to your right of redemption. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 60, § 64).