Eminent domain

WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd and the fight against blight
16
Mar
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd and the fight against blight

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: John Todd explains how cities in Kansas are seeking additional power to seize property, and tells us why we should oppose this legislation. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 188, broadcast March 17, 2018. Shownotes John Todd’s video at YouTube John Todd’s written testimony to the Kansas Legislature Kansas Legislature: HB 2506: Rehabilitation of abandoned property by cities. This is where you can find the text of the bill, supplemental and fiscal notes, plus the legislative history, including votes. Bob Weeks: Property under attack in Kansas
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Property under attack in Kansas
04
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Property under attack in Kansas

Local governments in Kansas are again seeking expanded power to seize property. In Kansas, officials of many city governments feel they don't have enough power to deal with blight. This year, as in years past, there is legislation to expand the power of cities to seize property. [1. Kansas Legislature. HB 2506. Rehabilitation of abandoned property by cities. Available at http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/hb2506/.] [1. Weeks, Bob. Power of Kansas cities to take property may be expanded. Available at https://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-government/power-kansas-cities-take-property-may-expanded/.] John Todd, along with Paul Soutar, made a video to explain the bill and the surrounding issues. It's just five minutes in length.…
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In Kansas, the war on blight continues
25
Jan
By Bob Weeks

In Kansas, the war on blight continues

Kansas governments are trying -- again -- to expand their powers to take property to the detriment of one of the fundamental rights of citizens: private property rights. Last year cities in Kansas lobbied for a bill that would expand their powers to take property from its lawful owners, all in the name of saving neighborhoods from "blight." Governor Brownback vetoed that bill, explaining, "The right to private property serves as a central pillar of the American constitutional tradition."[1. Weeks, Bob. Governor Brownback steps up for property rights. https://wichitaliberty.org/kansas-government/governor-brownback-steps-property-rights/.] The governor further explained: "The broad definition of blighted or abandoned…
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In Wichita, revealing discussion of property rights
13
Apr
By Bob Weeks

In Wichita, revealing discussion of property rights

Reaction to the veto of a bill in Kansas reveals the instincts of many government officials, which is to grab more power whenever possible. When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it. -- Frederic Bastiat Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's veto of a bill that gives cities additional means to take blighted property has produced reaction from local officials in Wichita. The bill is Senate Bill 338. As has been noted…
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13
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Wichita City Council speaks on blight

Wichita City Council members speak in opposition to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's veto of Senate Bill 338, which would have given cities additional power to take property. April 12, 2016. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. For more on this issue, see Governor Brownback, please veto this harmful bill.
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Governor Brownback steps up for property rights
11
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Governor Brownback steps up for property rights

Today Kansas Governor Sam Brownback vetoed Senate Bill 338. As explained by John Todd, this bill unnecessarily and dangerously increased the power of cities over private property rights. Thank you to the governor for understanding the harm of this bill and acting appropriately. Most of all, thank you to John Todd for recognizing the bill's danger, for his committee testimony, and for his tireless work in helping inform the governor and his staff about this bill. Following, the governor's veto message: The right to private property serves as a central pillar of the American constitutional tradition. It has long been…
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Wichita planning results in delay, waste
01
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Wichita planning results in delay, waste

Wichita plans an ambitious road project that turns out to be too expensive, resulting in continued delays for Wichita drivers and purchases of land that may not be needed. A major road construction project in east Wichita is deferred after the design is too expensive, reports the Wichita Eagle. (East Kellogg interchange plan getting major reboot, August 30, 2014) It's bad news that Wichita drivers will suffer through more years of delay as they travel through east Wichita. The value of the lost hours sitting in traffic? It's impossible to say. But here's something that will probably be easy to…
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30
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Government planning, itself, is dangerous

The very existence of a government plan is dangerous, as its construction creates powerful constituencies that have shaped it to fit their needs and are highly motivated to see it implemented. In Sunday's Wichita Eagle, Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton defended the regional community planning initiative underway in south-central Kansas. (Tim Norton: Planning effort helps shape region’s future) Much of the Commissioner's article simply described the program and the need for it in vague generalities that are neither correct or incorrect, and which do little to advance understanding of what is really likely to happen. But Norton did write something…
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