California Eminent Domain Ballot Initiative Opponents Organize
by Timothy Sandefur The opposition to the Protect Our Homes Initiative has issued this press release, arguing that the Initiative would "drive a stake through the heart of environmental protection," and would "make pollution a property right." This is not true, since laws against pollution are exempted from the Initiative under ...
California Eminent Domain Reform Bills
by Timothy Sandefur Here is the current list of bills addressing—or claiming to address—eminent domain in California. Whether these laws actually accomplish anything or not is something which I will perhaps discuss later. SB 53 (Kehoe) requires redevelopment plans to spell out how, when, and where redevelopment officials will use their eminent ...
More on California's Mealy-Mouthed Eminent Domain Reform
by Timothy Sandefur Prof. Ilya Somin has some thoughts on the new California laws, and points out that SB 1650, which I said might have some actual teeth in it, probably isn't even as protective as I suggested. And at the Orange County Register's blog, Steven Greenhut, author of Abuse of Power: How Government Misuses … ...
California Eminent Domain Symposium-You're Invited!
The Chapman University Federalist Society, the Pacific Legal Foundation, and other sponsors, are proud to announce a day-long symposium on eminent domain abuse in California, culminating in a debate over Proposition 90. The event begins at 1 p.m. on October 20, 2006 at Chapman University School of Law. For more information, check out this brochure. ...
California Eminent Domain Measure is Part of National Effort
by Timothy Sandefur Hey, did you know that California's Proposition 90 is part of a nationwide political campaign against eminent domain abuse? And did you know the campaign gets money from a rich guy who lives in New York? No, really! As they used to say, that's not news. That's olds. … ...
Eminent Domain Reforms in 9 States; California Still Uncertain
It's 11 o'clock in the west, 2 in the east, and the results of property rights reform so far are as follows: Arizona (Proposition 207) Yes 65.3% No 34.7% (95.4% of precincts reporting)California (Proposition 90) — 50-50 right now (29% of precincts reporting) Florida (Amendment 8) Yes 69% No 31% (98% of precincts reporting)Georgia (Ame ...
A Second Try for Eminent Domain Reform in California?
The California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights has sent along this press release: Efforts Underway to Place Eminent Domain Reform on 2008 Ballot Reelection of Governor Schwarzenegger positive sign for legislative reforms Sacramento, CA – With the failure of Proposition 90, the Protect Our Homes ballot measure, to gain voter approval, ...
Why Eminent Domain Reform Failed in California
by Timothy Sandefur My article on why Proposition 90 failed is available in the February issue of Liberty magazine, soon to be on newsstands everywhere. But you can read it early by clicking here. … ...
More on Fake Eminent Domain Reform in California
by Timothy Sandefur Prof. Ilya Somin has some important comments on the League of Cities' eminent domain "reform" ballot initiative. As he concludes, this initiative does reinforce my general thesis that post-Kelo reform has been ineffective because political leaders can exploit voter ignorance by persuading the public that bogus refo ...
Swiss Cheese Eminent Domain “Reform” in California—Again
by Timothy Sandefur Today, California Assemblyman Richard De La Torre unveiled a proposal to reform eminent domain in California. Unfortunately, it would actually provide virtually no protection to California’s property owners. You can read the proposal here. Among its many loopholes, the proposal protects only "owner occupied residences ...