The Newspapers Take Sides on Ballot Initiatives

October 10, 2006 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

by Timothy Sandefur

Newspapers are almost always very much in favor of using eminent domain for private development. Usually, editors see it as a way to bring more commerce to their cities, and usually newspaper folks aren't the ones targeted. So eminent domain reformers should not expect a warm reception from most newspapers.

In California, the Torrance Daily Breeze attacks Prop. 90, but the Orange County Register, which has endorsed the initiative, has a more balanced story about it; in Oregon, the Eugene Register-Guard attacks Measure 39; in Michigan, the Detroit News has a quick look at Proposal 4, which the Grand Banks Press endorses, and the Muskegon Chronicle opposes; Robert Robb of the Arizona Republic endorses Proposition 207; the Porsmouth (N.H.) Herald endorses eminent domain reform; and the Tacoma News Tribune opposes it, because the initiative campaign has a wealthy donor.