Posted on 03/07/2006 4:41:49 PM PST by mathprof
Lawsuits were filed Tuesday aimed at stopping an affluent suburban village from using the legal concept of eminent domain to take over a privately owned golf course.
"This proposed condemnation may be the most extreme abuse of eminent domain in the country," said John Wilson, a Deepdale Golf Club member named as a plaintiff.
The village's mayor said the federal and state lawsuit were a "pre-emptive strike" and no decision has been made on whether to proceed with a takeover of Deepdale, considered one of the finest golf courses in the country.
The club has long attracted the monied and, sometimes, the famous. "Today" show host Matt Lauer is listed as host of a June fundraiser there for an autism organization. The late comedian Bob Hope said in a 1980 interview that Deepdale was among his favorite courses.
The issue of municipalities seizing property has taken on a new focus since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 last June that eminent domain authority can be used to obtain land for tax revenue-generating commercial purposes. Eminent domain, the right of government to take property for public use, is typically used for projects that benefit an entire community, such as highways, airports or schools.
But in North Hills _ a 2.8 square mile community of 1,800 residents on Long Island's "gold coast," where housing prices begin in the millions _ members of the Deepdale Club are rallying to save their 175-acre facility from being taken by village officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
"I only do what's in the best interest of village residents," the mayor said, adding a poll conducted several years ago found residents would favor a village golf course "as an amenity."
Except for the interest of those village residents who actually own the golf course. Typical collectivist nonsense.
"Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote" PING
The ruling of the liberal SCOTUS - who started relying, not on our Constitution, but EUROPEAN LAW??? (How the H E double L is THAT legal?) didn't distinguish their intent to limit the thefts to, as Hitlery was want to say "The little people." Their Constitutionally illegal ruling can easily turn back upon them and their "upper class" - If so, it shouldn't be long before this egregious 'law' should be up for a re-look, ya think?
Someone took some liberty here, it was GD's 19 best in state. But nonetheless, to take a golf course or private land, by ED is cr@p. I think that golf courses are great uses for open space.
"A golf course is the knowing and willful misuse of a perfectly good rifle range." - Bill O'Connor
Why can't you both at the same time? We gotta work out an exibition for the next olympics. Look at the Biathalon! Ske and shoot, why not drive, long iron, chip, putt, draw?
Great quote.
So the only reason they state that they need it, is that they want it. Idiots.
It will still be a golf course, just a public one.
I grew up on Long Island and learned to play at Douglaston Park Golf Course, once an exclusive club called North Hills G.C.
High taxes drove the members to sell the course to the City of New York.
If you are ever in the area with your sticks, check it out,
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=7953
self ping!
PS - I hope 500c is not 500cc for your driver?!? LOL
What???? BUBUBUBUBBUUYYYYYY Bushwood!!!! NEVER......
I agree that it is unAmerican, but then so is outlawing guns in New York ... so we can't make the mayor and the village counsel choose between being shot and swimming for Block Island.
Golf and rifle range combined might be a tad awkward, but golf and skeet shooting would be a marriage made in heaven. With golf balls substituting for clay pigeons, of course.
a few high velocity lobotomies on these land grabbers and eminent domain wont be a problem anymore.
It's Tyranny and theft, no matter what 5 black robed scumbags proclaimed, plain and simple. And one of the reasons we have a second amendment.
Getting really, really, fed up with the socialists.
North Jerseyites, who have no appreciation or even liking for sportsmen/women, are moving there in droves and getting elected to public office. Those counties are the fastest growing in PA -- developers and speculators are swooping in like mad.
Wonder how long before those rod and gun clubs are going to be targeted for eminent domain.
I'll bring my 9-iron, just say pull! That sounds fun.
We are all for property rights, as long as they're not your property rights we're discussing. We're all for confiscating your property, as long as it will make our property values go up.
Besides, poor people don't really need property anyways. They'd just muck things up by wanting to actually live on it. Disgusting waste of capital. Adam Smith would be appalled.
Please check your guns at the door. Wouldn't want anyone defending themselves here, would we? These jokers moved-in on Colorado about 15 yrs ago, and it's been straight downhill ever since.
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