Posted on 06/30/2005 2:20:18 PM PDT by TrebleRebel
(ARLINGTON, June 29) -- Arlington City Council members have authorized eminent domain proceedings against 19 properties needed for the new Cowboys stadium. So far, about 20 people have agreed to sell their properties to the city. Each owner will receive more than $22 thousand over fair market value. Those fighting the city have forfeited their chances at the incentive. Last night's ruling paves the way for the city to condemn dozens more properties. Arlington promised the Cowboys that the stadium site would be ready for construction by next March.
(Excerpt) Read more at kdfwfox4.com ...
Not surprising - Arlington did it for the Texas Rangers a decade ago.
Apres le decision... la deluge.
Damn that David Souter anyway.
Probably not now, post Kelo v. New London.
Well they are going to lose :) but even losing takes time.
Why not? Like Connecticut, Texas law allows municipalities to condemn private property through eminent domain for use by private companies.
And where's the outrage from our "conservative" public figures, anyway?
Just my point...things will happen alot faster for Jerry Jones now.
But wasn't the Ballpark in Arlington built in the parking lot of the Rangers' previous stadium? That land was already owned by Rangers.
The Texas Constitution offers far greater protection to homeowners than the federal.
"Come and Take It"
Wow, at last, something that might really truly have been "Bush's Fault"
Nope, they took private lands as well. There's a good summary here:
http://emdo.blogspot.com/2005/05/demolishing-sports-welfare-reason.html
I believe this is why we haven't seen W come out against the Kelo decision. His opponents would hammer him with the Rangers' sweetheart deal.
It's why we haven't seen very many politicians of ANY stripe come out against this decision. If you want to have a meeting of every politician at every level of government nationally who HASN'T been involved one way or another in eminent domain proceedings, you could hold that meeting in a 7-11.
And for those jurisdictions that don't use eminent domain to take private property for private development, there's always abuse of zoning laws as a possibility -- or new regulations, higher taxes, etc.
Very interesting article. Thanks for the link.
The city of Arlington had an election and the tax increase passed by a very wide margin in an election with high turnout.
Interesting choice of words.
And with the strong support of George W. Bush, who went out and stumped for passage of the tax increase.
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