Articles

Castle Coalition Gives California A D- For Eminent Domain Reform

June 07, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

The Castle Coalition has issued a 50 state report card tracking eminent domain reform in the wake of Kelo. California and New York stand out for their failure to make any meaningful change to protect property owners. Of California, the Coalition points out that "no meaningful reform was seriously considered," and that "the state' ...

Articles

Connecticut Takes Some Step…Finally

June 07, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

The Danbury (CT) News Times has an editorial about the proposed eminent domain reform in Connecticut. The bill doesn't go very far in protecting property owners, but at least it's a step: As approved by the legislature, this proposed law prohibits municipalities from taking private property just to increase tax revenues. It requires local l ...

Articles

Ohio Senate Votes to Limit Eminent Domain

June 07, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

From ThisWeek Community Newspapers: The Ohio Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to limit the power of government to take private property under eminent-domain proceedings. The Senate approved both a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot and a revision to Ohio's current eminent-domain statutes. Both the resolution and the bill require ...

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Atlantic Yards Suit Dismissed by Federal Judge

June 07, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

From New York Business.com: A federal judge Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against the $4 billion Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn. The ruling, eagerly awaited for two months, is a major blow to opponents of the project, who plan to appeal. (Read more…) … ...

Articles

Development Without Eminent Domain

June 07, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

Many people claim that you can't redevelop dilapidated towns without eminent domain. That is false, and a new report by Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle explains. This report will be exceedingly useful to defenders of property rights in California. HT: Steven Greenhut. More at California Alliance for Property Rights. … ...

Articles

What Loophole?

June 08, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

by Timothy Sandefur The latest issue of California Lawyer features an article about the California ballot initiatives regarding eminent domain, and it includes a quote from me that might be a bit misleading. I told reporter Laura McClure that the previous version of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association initiative contained a loophole allowing go ...

Articles

New Jersey's Gallenthin Decision

June 14, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

The Volokh Conspiracy has very interesting coverage on the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision in Gallenthin Realty, a case asking whether simply non-productive land is "blighted" for purposes of eminent doman. Here's post one; two; three. Here's the decision. … ...

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Plaintiffs Lose First Round in San Francisco Redevelopment Lawsuit

June 14, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

The people of Bayview/Hunter's Point, who gathered enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot repealing the city's plan to condemn their land for redevelopment, have been told that their referendum was inadequate because it did not contain the phonebook-sized City General Plan. The litigation is being run by former PLF president Mi ...

Articles

TV Report on Gran Havana Condemnation Case

June 18, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

by Timothy Sandefur Remember the Gran Havana Cigar Store–the upscale cigar store condemned by the city of San Diego to construct a luxury hotel? There's no hotel yet, and Ahmad Mesdaq, the store's former owner, thinks the developer has different plans for the land. Fox 6 news has this video story. And here's more from … ...