[freebilly]

Well, Lau is a whack-job, but I'm not a fan of eminent domain.

I'll be interested to see how this plays out in Skanky Cruise....

[RightWhale]

The 20,000-square-foot lot has been appraised at $1.4 million.

They can take it for a road or something of a public nature, but they have to pay fair market value.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Hmmm. This seems like a wildlife preserve, preserving the nuances of nature against the evils of man....Anybody got a couple of extra Kangaroo rats handy?..../smirk

[lotusblos]

"The 20,000-square-foot lot has been appraised at $1.4 million."

I'd like to know who did the appraisal. The tiny 1100 sf homes sitting on postage stamp lots in the area are selling for $500K+. Liberals have no qualms about stealing other people's property or money. They think like Hillary, "the end justifies the means", and they always profit in the end, at someone else's expense.

[truth_seeker]

"Well, Lau is a whack-job, but I'm not a fan of eminent domain."

What is so whacky about the man wishing an eco-responsible project, on HIS OWN property?

He is attempting to enact his conscience, ON HIS OWN land.

And yet in Santa Cruz, no less, the council gives the man zero support.

The council will opt for an entrenched building interest.

Redevelopment means the council buys the subject land, for "X" dollars, but may give it to the redevelopment builder, for next to nothing.

The builder can make a killing on such projects, since they often get the land for next to nothing.

The accounting and public reporting is so confusing to lay people, that virtually NOBODY understands what takes place.

One thing redevelopment does, is to give much power to local councils. The city council usually is the same as the redevelopment council.

Another factor is the definition of "blight."

The originally envisioned process of "redevelopment" was to replace inner-city slums. This was blight.

Now, a vacant lot in pristine coastal California is "blight" to these folks.

In Huntington Beach, the council planned to use eminent domain to take some residential units, to be replaced with pink stucco shopping.

A big local reaction forced them to vow (temporarily) to not take housing by ED.

[Robert A Cook PE]

A definite conflict of interest there: Concur with his "ideal" desire to make an "ideal" building.

But then again: A dirty, ugly, weed-filled concrete hole-in-the-ground in the middle of downtown screws everybody around him.

But, then again, he said he was a holistic, nuts and bolts type of guy: He's nuts, got a hole in the ground, and refuses to bolt someplace where he can contemplate his navel in piece without destroying his neighbors.

(Gee, too bad he didn't try to erect a cross there: He'd be in jail immediately.)

[lotusblos]

"Eminent domain is the power of government to condemn private property and take title for public use, provided owners receive fair compensation."

When the government condemns private property, it should be for a reason so good no one would object to compensating the owner at tens times the appraised value. That would curtail the thievery that gets committed by condemning someone's property under eminent domain.

[Constantine XIII]

He's a kook alright, but it's his land. The city council and the developer can go suck eggs.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[hedgetrimmer]

Lau has 90 days to accept an offer by local developer Bolton Hill to buy the parcel. If a deal is not reached, the agency will attempt to negotiate with Lau. If that proves unsuccessful, the city says it will consider eminent domain.

An individual property owner is told by the government that must sell his property to someone else or they will take it away themselves.

Is the purpose of eminent domain to grant property to people who will do the government's bidding? Thats exactly what this case looks like. It smacks of corruption as well.

[nickcarraway]

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