Monthly Archives: June 2016

INTERIM. Private Property Rights + Sharing Economy. Local Regs from the Northwest.

Which city in the Northwest is proposing new short term rental ordinances? Seattle

The intel you need to know:

What opponents to Seattle’s regulations say:

  • Seattle’s regulations “deprive [Seattle property owners] of our ability to keep ourselves afloat” during hard times
  • Harming people who provide inexpensive accommodations to visitors to Seattle, who then spend money in Seattle
  • Disrupting Seattle’s social fabric by allowing short term rentals that bring people into neighborhoods…

INTERIM. Lege Trend: Ombudsman. Public Counsel for Eminent Domain.

Which state has an ombudsman, or public counsel, for eminent domain? Missouri

What does the Missouri Office of Public Counsel do for Missourians facing eminent domain?

  •  providing property owners with guidance on the condemnation process
  • documents the use of eminent domain in Missouri and provides the Legislature with an annual report of how Missourians are affected by eminent domain

Which state agency houses the Missouri Office of Public Counsel? Missouri’s Public Utility Commission

…

Home Owner Bill of Rights Heads North. Adds Property Taxes + More. Your Informed Intel.

Wisconsin legislature is pushing forward with a Land Owner Bill of Rights.

Why does the Land of Cheese think Land Owner Bill of Rights is necessary? The need for more information during eminent domain being used by an ” overbearing government”

What 9 elements are in Wisconsin’s Home owner Bill of Rights?

  • Controlling Property Taxes
  • Broadband Access
  • Energy Security and Affordability 
  • Eminent Domain Reform
  • Regulatory Takings Reform
  • Right to Fly the Flag
  • Right to Privacy on One’s…

INTERIM. Activist Says TX Lege Will Remove Eminent Domain from Special Districts

What eminent domain issue sparked this activist rebuke? Johnson Ranch MUD approval of eminent domain proceedings against neighboring farm lands

What did the property rights activist say? That the Legislature is ready to remove the power of eminent domain from MUDs.

New Braunfels Herald Zeitung | Activist: MUD should expect eminent domain change

INTERIM. Legal Trend. Improvement District Sues TXDOT. Win Increases Value by $3 million. 3 Key Points.

Why did the East Montgomery County Improvement District sue TXDOT? The board thought it was important to show a jury the loss of value in the land:

  • lost a great deal of functionality as a large event community center
  • Condemned property  included a parking lot that affects functionality
  • The State’s proposed remediation parking plan was inadequate to serve the district’s needs or that of the community
  • Condemned Property prohibits expansion of the districts education wing

What was…

TREND. No Eminent Domain for Pipelines. 4 Points from the Washington Post.

Lots of dollars going into pipeline investment.

  • U.S. has the largest netowrk of pipelines.  more than 2.5 million miles of pipes
  • High Annual Investment. American petroluem Institute says average annual investment will be above $80 billion until 2020

This issue unites Rs and Ds.  Liberal enviromentalists join with libertarian leaning propety rights advocates

Its made an impact:

  • 2 states, SC and GA, have passed prohibitions on pipelines using eminent domains
  • Multiple courts have sided…

TREND. INTERIM. Civil Asset Forfeiture Passes in the Midwest. The key intel:

Which state reformed civil asset forefeoture laws? Ohio

Does the OH legisltion require conviction for forfieture? No, it permits forfeiture if criminal charges can be filed against the person.

Do local governments have access to the proceeds at the time of forfeiture? No, the assets are put in escrow until conviction

Ohio HB 347

Americans for Tax Reform | ATR Congratulates Ohio for Passing Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform

 

INTERIM. TREND. Sharing Economy. Short Term Rentals. Rental Guides.

New Sharing Economy Business Trend: Rent a Human to Guide you through the interesting aspects of the area of your short term rental.

The Rent a Human Program Name:  City Hosts. Like a Zombie Hosts on a Human.

the Goal: Like the AirBnB commercials, short term rentals are about the experience

Example Experiences:

  • Adventures with a kite surfer in SF
  • Vietnamese cooking lessons with a Parisian chef
  • Tour London’s Grime music scene with a record scout

Example Regulations: Do…

Eminent Domain. Church. Texas. Competing Constitutional Rights + Compensation Dispute.

Where in Texas is a church facing potential eminent domain situation?  Longview

What is the discrepancy in compensation?

  • The city offered offered $1,049.50
  • An appraiser has appraised the value of the land to be taken at  $71,209.00

What trends have been happening with eminent domain & churches?

  • The City of Houston in 2015 backed away from a plan to include a church in an eminent domain qualifying housing project
  • Courts in Kentucky have said that the church’s 1st amendment rights…