Posted on 06/25/2005 8:17:22 AM PDT by snowsislander
Contact: Rhonda Spears, 202-861-6766 or rspears@usmayors.org; Elena Temple, 202-861-6719 or etemple@usmayors.org, both of the United States Conference of Mayors
WASHINGTON, June 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement of the United States Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran on Supreme Court ruling on City of New London Vs. Kelo case:
"The United States Conference of Mayors policy states that the nation's mayors support the right of local governments to retain eminent domain to promote economic development in their individual cities.
"City officials continue to act in a most judicious manner as they exercise fair and balanced judgment in protecting the rights of property owners while planning for the city's overall economic viability.
"The Supreme Court joins with The United States Conference of Mayors, as well as the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the International City/County Management Association, the National Council of State Legislators, the Council of State Governments, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association in recognizing that without the use of eminent domain, cities cannot make the changes necessary to sustain healthy economic and demographic growth.
"The power of eminent domain provides elected officials at all levels of governments one of the basic tools they need to ensure the growth and well-being of their communities."
They used to call that communism.
I thought they would show a sense of reason. I was obviously VERY wrong. D*MN.
I can just see the stories about how poor Blacks and Hispanics are being driven from their homes (shacks by the Cities standards) to provide the Koffi Annan's of your local Cit/county Goves to buy a new Jaguar.
Yeeks!!!!!
"... and will do so until they discover that they have virtually unlimited power, at which time they will begin to abuse that power, as all men in history have."
"The power of eminent domain provides elected officials at all levels of governments one of the basic tools they need to ensure the growth and well-being of their communities."
"It also accords unto mediocre, corruptible public parasites the right to confer and sustain private ownership of property. In other words, one of the most sacred of western legal canons is now secured against the most paltry of human edifices: trust."
Oh ain't that a beaut.
I realize it's one man voicing an opinion here, (not sure how many members of this org. support Mr. Cochran), yet that opinion is an ominous one.
Robbing from the poor (typically affected by this ruling) to benefit the wealthy.
Isn't that a reverse Robin Hood and something the liberals have accused conservatives of doing?
I definitely wanted a different outcome...but I'm still a bit torn on whether the federal government has the right to prevent localities from doing that.
I don't know folks. This is really serious. How far are people willing to protect their property from government theft?
Very good news for developers and their investors.
They don't get it.
My property is not there for your "economic" development unless I want to sell it to you. If the "public" needs a bridge, or a dam, or a highway that provides a "public use", as the constitution says, then give me the market price and I'll go, otherwise, get off my property.
They don't get it.
The possible, "possible", "benevolence" of some government activity does not trump the basic rights guaranteed to individuals under the constitution.
Impeach 'em.
"For me as mayor, I would ask council to be very, very careful and very responsible if and when we are to consider an eminent domain project here." --- Galveston, Texas Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas
there's been a steady, unrelenting movement in the united states to undermine property rights by both democrats and republicans.
in colorado farmers and ranchers can no longer run cattle, unless there have been continuous cattle in place, on their farms and ranches from the continental divide east--to the east side of the front range urban corridor.
Are you kidding? They'll get reelected too, probably all of them...
what's particulary onerous about this ruling is that the distinction between democrat and republican does not apply.
for example, a liberal city that wants to gentrify part of its run down core might team up with a conservative developer.
here, it's the highest bidder that pleases the city.
Several black historical land marks where destroyed, but I guess there was an economic boom, not.
Unless it was fertilizer to dump in front of the massage parlor.
"City officials continue to act in a most judicious manner...
Keep your eye on what happens around Middle River, Maryland. A county property grab was tried two years ago and failed because of the public outcry. That court ruling is a license to steal.
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