Posted on 07/15/2006 7:27:09 AM PDT by SmithL
Los Angeles -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other city officials won't have to testify in a trial challenging the city's sale of a 14-acre garden that was reclaimed by the landowner and bulldozed last week amid protests.
The plaintiffs had subpoenaed Villaraigosa and nearly a dozen members of the city council, but Superior Court Judge Helen I. Bendix said she would have to limit the type of questions the urban farmers' lawyers could ask.
Attorneys from the two sides agreed Friday not to call the officials to testify.
The lawsuit demands that the city get back the land and give back more than $5 million it accepted from previous owner Ralph Horowitz.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Did Yoko bring her walrus?
Kudos to Missouri and Gov. Blunt for signing the first law putting severe restrictions on the taking of private property by the state yesterday. I saw the governor on Cavuto's show and he really seemed sharp. Now there are only 49 other states that need to step up and show the SCOTUS that this is not the old Soviet Union after all.
ILLEGAL ALIEN farmers?
What the story fails to mention is that the land was seized from the owner using eminant domain, and the owner was given only $5 million.
The county failed to use the land for its intended reason (the reason that allowed the use of eminant domain) ... and for a while, it was used as a community garden.
The original owner sued (and won) to get his land back, and he returned the money (and IIRC, he actually had to pay an increase, covering the value of money invested) and got his land back.
The land is valued (and taxed) at $14 million ... and he was willing to sell - for $14 million, or he would develop it to maximize his investment.
The wackos want the county to screw the owner of the land ... not that you would get all the facts by reading the article.
Mike
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