Eminent domain Archives - Voice For Liberty

Mar

Eminent domain abuse, then economic failure

The Cato Institute has a new video that details the history of Kelo v. City of New London, in which Suzette Kelo's house was taken from her using eminent domain and given to a private developer for purposes of economic development. "As it happens, the space where Kelo's house and others once stood is still an empty dustbowl generating zero economic impact for the town." View the video by clicking here.

Feb

By Bob Weeks

The taking of private property

Written by John D’Aloia Jr. ".... nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation." - - U.S. Constitution, Amendment V. The taking of property by eminent domain for reasons that do not meet the historic definition of "public use" has been much in the news since the Supreme Court handed down its infamous Kelo decision. Eminent domain is not the only way that private property can be acquired by government. Placing restrictions on the land by law or regulation can also be a taking that warrants just compensation. The Pottawatomie County Commission has adopted a change…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Terrible Blighted Property

The link below from Castle Coalition shows some properties that have been declared as blighted by local governments, so that the local government can condemn the property and take it from its owner under the process of eminent domain. Judge for yourself as to whether these properties are, indeed, blight. http://www.castlecoalition.org/CastleWatch/bogusblight/index.html

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Eminent Doman and the Downtown Wichita Arena

Thank you to John Todd for this excellent material. Testimony in Opposition to the County's use of Eminent Domain for the Arena Project. Dear Commissioners: My name is John Todd. I am a real estate broker and developer and I come before you in opposition to the County's proposed use of eminent domain for the downtown arena footprint. On August 25, 2004 and prior to the arena vote in November of that year, I presented testimony before this Commission questioning the wisdom of building a downtown arena without knowing the exact location of the parcel(s) of land the project would…

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Eminent domain testimony

Thank you to John Todd for this testimony on this threat to liberty, and for traveling to Topeka to deliver it. To: Members of the House Federal and State Committee, March 6, 2006 hearing. Subject: Testimony in Support for the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 5025; conditional Support for the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 5040; and unconditional Support for the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1616; all involving Eminent Domain reform. I am a real estate broker and land developer in Sedgwick County, and a Volunteer Coordinator for Americans For Prosperity, and a member of the…

Jan

By Bob Weeks

John Todd on Eminent Domain in Kansas

To: The Kansas House/Senate Joint Committee on Economic Development. Subject: Testimony Regarding Eminent Domain at the October 11, 2005 hearing. My name is John Todd. I am a real estate broker and land developer from Wichita. I support the proposition to amend article 15 of the constitution of the state of Kansas by adding a new section thereto, concerning eminent domain as follows: "Private property shall not be taken except for public use, and private property shall not be taken without just compensation. The taking of private property with the intent to or in anticipation of selling, leasing or otherwise…