Eminent Domain Round Up
The SCOTUS will hear Kelo v. New London on February 22.
Fighting eminent domain abuse has rallied troops from both sides of the political spectrum:
The Institute for Justice has soldered progressive and conservative groups into a surprising coalition that is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to prohibit the taking of private property for economic development.
Twenty-five groups with assorted political views have filed briefs in support of the Fort Trumbull residents who are resisting the city’s effort to take their houses to make way for offices and a hotel that will strengthen the city’s tax base. The Institute for Justice is representing those residents before the high court, which will hear the case on Feb. 22.
The use of eminent domain riles libertarian groups, including the Cato Institute, because it infringes on an individual’s right to hold property. And it vexes progressive groups, including the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, because it undermines the strength of community.
The Boston City Council has officially sanctioned the abuse of eminent domain:
The City Council voted yesterday to extend the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s urban renewal powers until 2015, allowing the agency to continue using eminent domain in private development projects.
December 17th, 2004 at 11:29 am
Thanks for being ever vigilant on this issue S.U. We’ve got our own ED problems in Brooklyn regarding some development associated with a proposed basketball arena.
Unfortunately, most Americans are still more swayed by NIMBY arguments against these boondoggles than by arguments on the basic injustice of it all. They think ED happens to other people.
Hopefully that’s changing.
December 17th, 2004 at 6:57 pm
Did you happen to see the front page in the Knoxville News Sentinel today? Look online for the headline regarding building a new school:
Board of Education Chairman Dan Murphy said Thursday that school officials have found a couple of sites for the school, but he worries the property owners won’t sell – and that the issue might have to be resolved in court.
“There is good land out there. There’s a couple sites I really like and would really serve the interests of this community,” Murphy said during a rare joint meeting of the school board and County Commission. “If we can’t achieve a meeting of the minds with the owner, we cannot rule out the possibility of condemnation.”
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_3405599,00.html
December 18th, 2004 at 3:59 pm
Check the history of Dodger stedium in Chaves Ravine for an early example.