Monthly Archives: July 2017

3 Reasons Supporters Push Annexation Reform

A former aid to VP Cheney makes the case for annexation reform with these 3 arguments:

  • The current system doesn’t support a person’s ability to choose where they live
    • If you shoose to live outside the city, you should be able to stay outside of the city
  • Its undemocratic not to allow a vote by the owners who are being annexed
    • And this is unTexan
  • Reform should apply for all Texans, not just Texans in big cities

Commentary: Why Texas should push back against involuntary annexations |…

To fight eminent domain nuns build chapel in the middle of the pipeline path. Freedom of religion v. eminent domain.

Nuns gone wild. Nuns in Pennsylvania own a corn field that sits in the path of a pipeline. Nuns oppose the pipeline’s path through their property, and to combat it the nuns built a chapel.

The nuns, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, believe that the earth is sacred.

Sets up a fight between the 1st amendmnt freedom of religion argument the nuns espouse and the 5th amendment takings provisions that permits eminent domain.The legal grudgematch begins July 17, 2017.

Upworthy | These nuns built…

Legal Trend. Is the Land Owner Bill of Rights Mandatory? In this state, cities say no.

In Georgia, cities are arguing before the Georgia Supreme Court that the 2006 Land Owner Bill of Rights is not mandatory and there is no enforcement mechanism. 

Landowners in Marietta say that the Land Owners Bill of Rights is mandatory.

Background of the eminent domain dispute:

  • City offers $85,000 to build a park.
  • Court awards $225,000 for the only black grocery store in a historically black district. 
  • Court said the city violated the Land Owner Bill of Rights by not acting transparently…

Private Property Rights. Drone Law Requires Local Control Be Included. 5 Bits informed:intel.

Federal drone legislation seeks to provide this broad framework:

  •  secretary of transportation would develop “civil unmanned aircraft policy framework”
  • harmonize time, place and manner from drone use

In addition to broad federal framework, it requires flexibility for local ordinances concerning:

  • more control over protecting residents’ privacy & property rights
  • create low-altitude speed limits
  • establish local no-drone zones

Drone Innovation Act | Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN)

Morning Consult…

Lege TREND. State Constitution Limits Eminent Domain Against Businesses.

State: Louisiana

The eminent domain issue: A private dock entity, Violet Dock Port, had been operating in St. Bernardship parish. The Port Authority wanted to acquire its private competitor. Violet and the Port couldn’t agree on a price, so the Port Authority used eminent domain & began operating the Dock Port.

The Louisiana Constitution says: “no business enterprise or any of its assets shall be taken for the purpose of operating that enterprise or halting competition with a government…