Prop. 90 Would Restore Fairness
Bruce Colbert, writing in the Palm Springs (CA) Desert Sun, argues that Proposition 90
stops eminent domain abuse and protects private property rights through two key provisions. First, the initiative limits the use of eminent domain to projects of public use, and prohibits government from using eminent domain to take private property from one private owner to transfer to another private owner simply to enhance tax revenue. Second, the initiative ensures just compensation for property owners if the government devalues private property through regulatory actions….
The initiative introduces the element of cost into regulation, so that government would now have to pay for the property rights it takes from private landowners. This would help bring about better planning by discouraging the thoughtless planning that occurs when something can be obtained for nothing.