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Domain casualties.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
I was particularly interested in your article on the abuse of eminent domain ("The Real Problem With Kelo," July 25 issue). Not only did it alert me to the real danger unleashed by the Supreme Court's involvement in the Kelo case, but it also served to remind me of my experiences with eminent domain during the 1980s.
As an appraiser for the U.S. Government Department of the Interior, Land Acquisition, it was my job to determine value and acquire property for construction of the Jordanelle Dam near Heber, Utah, the last federal dam to be built under Teddy Roosevelt's water reclamation program. During that time, I had occasion to come in contact with many victims of eminent domain brutality even within the parameters of takings for legitimate public use.
In 1947, when the Feds determined what ground would be needed for the Jordanelle project, they obtained an extensive building moratorium for all property on and near the designated site. Apparently, the moratorium was meant to restrict maintenance on the subject properties so that whenever the time came for eminent domain to be exercised to build the dam, the government could apply their "fair market value" rule and take the properties for low-ball amounts.
For over 40 years under this moratorium (from 1947-1988), those poor property owners were not allowed to build any outbuildings, add improvements such as extra rooms or new cabinets to their homes, upgrade their antiquated heating systems, of do any maintenance to their places unless it was absolutely necessary to keep them barely habitable.
And those who found it difficult to bear such burdensome restrictions couldn't sell their properties for anything near what they were actually worth. Who wants to pay fair market ...
- Eminent Domain: Information about Its Uses and Effect on Property Owners and...
- General Accounting Office Reports & Testimony December 1, 2006 700+ words
...conduct a nationwide study on the use of eminent domain by state and local governments. This...the purposes for and extent to which eminent domain can be and has been used; (2) the...use to acquire land, including by eminent domain; (3) how the use of eminent domain...
- Eminent domain reform on horizon: local government, environmentalists seek to...
- Newspaper article from: California Planning & Development Report Shigley, Paul January 1, 2007 700+ words
...Proposition 90, new proposals to alter eminent domain law are already arising. Anti-tax...state lawmakers are all working on eminent domain proposals, and it is likely that voters...will lose at least some measure of eminent domain authority, as even the California...
- Eminent Domain Legislation by state.(Reprint)
- Magazine article from: Public Management Morandi, Larry December 1, 2005 700+ words
...to the U.S. Constitution permits eminent domain for economic development purposes that...further restrictions on the use of eminent domain. This article discusses the categories...Each category restricts the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes to...
- Eminent domain and economic development: striking a balance: eminent domain is...
- Magazine article from: Partners in Community and Economic Development Farr, Jessica LeVeen January 1, 2006 700+ words
Some critics of eminent domain argue that it allows local governments...Supreme Court decision has made eminent domain one of the hottest topics across...of New Orleans. The power of eminent domain: what is it and how is it used...
- EMINENT DOMAIN'S CONTINUING ROLE THOUGH RECENT DISCRIMINATION RULING PROVED A...
- Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe Desiree French, Globe Staff June 5, 1987 700+ words
...acted in bad faith when it took land by eminent domain to prevent the construction of low...income tenants. Those familiar with eminent-domain practices say the Burlington case was...is going to strike down the use of eminent domain as being illegal or improper is simply...
- States and eminent domain: limiting public use, increasing...
- Magazine article from: Valuation Insights & Perspectives Morton, Justin September 22, 2005 700+ words
...ITS JUNE 2005 RULING IN THE LANDMARK EMINENT DOMAIN CASE, KELO V. CITY OF NEW LONDON...governments could limit how localities use eminent domain. Specifically, the court said states...definition of "public use" to allow eminent domain only for traditional definitions of...
- Abuse of Eminent Domain Debated.
- News wire article from: United Press International May 22, 2002 700+ words
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2002 Eminent domain -- the government's Constitutional...the practical definition of eminent domain has evolved, some say for the...government" that has expanded eminent domain to include the government...
- BG's eminent domain plan gets noticed.
- Newspaper article from: Daily News (Bowling Green, KY) November 7, 2005 700+ words
...Bowling Green's recent restriction of eminent domain might serve as the model for new statewide...vote, banning themselves from using eminent domain for anything but expressly public projects...any Kentucky government's use of eminent domain to " 'qualified public uses,' involving...
