Comments on: Supreme Court to Rule on Eminent Domain Limits

By: Mark L

Mark L — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 02:00:53 +0000

In a Ft. Worth suburb about 8 years ago they evicted homeowners for the sole purpose of expanding the mall to increase sales tax revenue. They were "supported" in court by the judge, but the eviction stay was refused. So, when they went to a higher court to get things fixed, they were told they no longer had standing since their homes were gone.

Keep in mind that property rights was once one of THE defining things about Texas. No more.

By: Accidental Verbosity

Accidental Verbosity — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:21:39 +0000

Will The Court Right Property Wrongs?
Via James Joyner, the Supremes are coming up on the case of government theft of private property for the purpose of turning it into different private property and increasing tax revenues. I barely accept that eminent domain has any valid place in our g...

By: NJvoter

NJvoter — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 19:22:39 +0000

Is the planned private community being built by Republicans? If so, I'm not sure that I'm against it.

Just being honest.

By: Jack Tanner

Jack Tanner — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 17:36:45 +0000

'I'm not particularly upset about government's ability to force property owners to sell land needed to build roads and similar infrastructure, so long as the compensation is above market value. ' And so long as there is a compelling need to use that particular land and that they can demonstrate a reason why there is no viable alternative to whatever is being planned. Sorry, baseball stadiums and public housing projects aren't needs they're preferences.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:47:35 +0000

This is one of my pet issues.

My first awareness of a libertarian streak in myself at a young age was when I first learned of the concept of eminent domain and was absolutely horrified. I've come to terms with it for the usual purposes, but to take property for a different private use is so over the top that there is no way the Supremes can possibly find in favor and leave me recognizing this country as the place I thought it was.

By: Tom Royce

Tom Royce — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:50:05 +0000

See Neal Boortz today about this, it is one of his pet causes and he explains it much better than I ever can.

http://boortz.com/nuze/200502/02222005.html#ed

If this was allowed to happen, we are all at risk and have given up one of our most precious rights.

By: John

John — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:31:05 +0000

This is a big story--and issue--in Florida, too. Different counties are now being sued to prevent their exercise of eminient domain in closing not-well-planned housing developments in order to build better-planned ones.

There's no question about the poor planning of the original developments, but the people who have decided to put up with the inconveniences--and are paying mortgages to do so--don't want to get booted out. The new developments would be beyond their ready means to afford them.

By: Lurking Observer

Lurking Observer — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:58:02 +0000

I seem to recall that the NYT and NYC joined together to use eminent domain to secure the land on which the NYT's new headquarters now sits.

One wonders how the NYT will opine on this case, and whether that bit of history will be openly admitted?