Erie Twp. rail plans produce debate over eminent domain

Toledo Blade ^ | July 16, 2006 | DAVID PATCH

[hedgetrimmer]

ERIE, Mich. - Beyond the shade trees draped over Madge Ausmus' back porch, soybeans grow in fields that have belonged to her family for generations.

On either side of her Erie Township home live relatives whose houses were built over the years on lots split off from the original Burgard homestead along Erie Road.

"This property was ours before Michigan became a state," Mrs. Ausmus said.

Beyond those soybeans lie three railroad tracks, the closest one belonging to the Canadian National Railway. The presence of that CN track is a key to a conflicting - and controversial - vision for the future of Mrs. Ausmus' property and that of her neighbors.

It's a vision whose realization may depend, at least in part, on laws enacted during the 19th century giving railroads the same land condemnation powers that governments possess to build roads and other public works.

[hedgetrimmer]

This is a private take."

Will trans-texas corridor's Cintra be able to condemn property too? After all "free trade" dictates that foreign companies get "national treatment", that is, they get the same 'privileges' as American companies.

[hedgetrimmer]

FYI

[hedgetrimmer]

Property rights, eminent domain FYI

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I don't think Cintra or Zachry would be able to condemn property. If I recall correctly, that would still be the province of the state of Texas. Diddle E. Squat would probably know the details of this.

[Diddle E. Squat]

For the Trans-Texas Corridor, the state of Texas, via TXDOT, will handle any eminent domain, because the state will own the land and the road. They are only leasing out construction, maintenance, and operating rights to the private firm (subject to termination at will by the state.) Cintra-Zachry can request a route and submit designs, but TXDOT will review and have the final decision on all routings and designs.

All of this has been explained to hedgetrimmer multiple times, yet he doesn't seem to let facts get in the way of his nonstop conspiracy theories and accusations.

[hedgetrimmer]

Yes, the state condemns the property and Cintra gets to make loads and loads of money off it. Sounds like fascism to me.

[hedgetrimmer]

Why do you oppose property rights? I'm just curious. Not from America, maybe? Or its ok as long as its not yours?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yes, the state condemns the property and Cintra gets to make loads and loads of money off it.

After paying the state $1.2 billion for the lease, plus all construction, maintenance, and operating costs, and only if demand meets their projections (and if not they could lose a boatload of money, the risk resides with the private company.)

Sounds like fascism to me.

Actually it is textbook capitalism. Terms like 'fascism' and 'Halliburton' have lost all meaning the way you sling them around, regardless of any facts. Though not surprising for someone who has been caught regularly posting anti-Bush crap on DU.

Why do you oppose property rights? I'm just curious. Not from America, maybe? Or its ok as long as its not yours?

Nearly every road built in this country in the last 100 years has involved eminent domain. Are you saying that these roads should not have been built? What a knee-jerk moron you are. You can have the last word, I'm done wasting time with you.

[hedgetrimmer]

Actually it is textbook capitalism

What a foolish thing to say. It is textbook corporatist fascim. You want the state to pick and choose the economic winners? Of course they will be the ones who have the most cash to pay off the politicians. You are ignorant of the American Revolution and the promise of equal justice it gave humanity. Of course you say you're done, because you don't believe in private property nor the American system which REQUIRES each and every one of us to stand up for our fellow American's rights! It is our duty! It is not the purpose nor obligation of the state to take money from individual citizens through taxes and use it to enrich FOREIGN or DOMESTIC corporations.

[hedgetrimmer]

How to erase a border,our academics are hard at work on the problem. They think international transporation corridors will do the trick quite nicely.

A coherent, bi-national policy community has been active on regional transportation issues for many years. These groups spent years “softening up” the political climate for regional and transborder transportation projects; when political opportunities arose, they were ready to act. Much of the efforts of these transborder activists centered on using communication and media strategies to influence other economic and political groups (Dobell and Neufeld, 1994).

REGIONAL AND TRANSNATIONAL DISCOURSE: The Politics of Ideas and Economic Development in Cascadia