Author Archives: admin

Lege TRENDing. Special Session. Private Property Rights vs. Recreational Water.

South Dakota Governor called a special session to  “create a set of rules for outdoor enthusiasts who want to use lakes on private land in South Dakota for recreation”

The special session is in direct response to a State Supreme Court ruling that denied access to lakes from private property. 

Refreshing our recollection  from march 22, 2017 informed:intel  Legal Trend: Are all Waterways Open to the Public? No, not up north.

What does proposed draft bilsl look like to addres access to lakes…

Refreshing Recollection. 3 Points from TPPF on Tree Ordinances.

According to TPPF here’s what’s happening with tree ordinances in Texas

  • 50 cities have onerous tree ordinances
  • By way of example, TPPF points to Austin which requires city approval to:
    • remove a tree with a trunk diameter over 9 inches
    • if the tree is over 24 inches in truck diameter, then its a heritage tree, and removal is forbidded unless there is a safety issue
  • To solve this problem, TPPF recommends that the Legislature

      1. ” prohibit local governments from preventing the…

Private property Rights. Annexation. Who is on the Annexation Special Session bandwagon?

3 Bits Info. Eminent Domain Activism in Texas- legal activism edition.

The legal activists:  Texas Civil Rights Project

The Texas Civil Rights Project goal is to:

  • Educate Texas landowners by producing videos, in English and Spanish, that spell out landowners’ Constitutional rights
  • Holding “know your rights” training sessions for property owners with lawyers & legal volunteers

The target land owner: Border land owners

Corpus Christi Caller Times | Texas Civil Rights Project teaches landowners faults of ‘wrongheaded’ border wall policy

2 Restrictions on Quick Take Eminent Domain from the Midwest

In Illinois, for a county to use quick take eminent domain, it requires:

  • Legislation
    • Pass both chambers of the Legislature
    • Be signed by the Governor
    • Be approved by the County Board 
  • The Quick Take eminent domain authority has a clock
    • It must be exercised within 1 year

Illinois Senate Bill 567 (2017)

Herald Review | Macon County eminent domain authority awaits Rauner OK

Brewing Property Rights Trend. City Ordinances. Front Yard Fences.

City: Tyler TX

The front yard fence ordinance that concerns property rights advocates: Requiring a special-use permit to have a fence of any kind in the front yard

What was Tyler’s goal of special use permits for front yard fencing? To stop blighted properties which they tied to chain link fences.

In the words of a Tyler City Council Members: 

  • chain-link makes neighborhoods look like prison yards
  • fences in the front yard are in areas that are headed downward economically

Tyler Morning…

Lege Trend. Republican Resolution. No Eminent Domain for Private Gain. 3 Bits of Intel Unifying 3 Opponents.

State: Illinois

The project sparking the no eminent domain for private gain refrain: Great Lakes Rail

The Resolution, HR 437 (2017), hits on these 3 points:

  • private company using eminent domain
  • up tp $90 million permanent loss of agricultural revenue
  • endangers local wildlife

Illinois Valley News Tribune | Rep. Long bill opposes Great Lakes Rail, eminent domain 

Sharing Economy Trend. Country Lists Itself on AirBNB

the country: Sweden

How can a country list itself on AirBnB? In Sweden, the first law of the country is Allemansrätten which means you can freely roam, camp and forage.

Does Allemansrätten mena you can enter homes or cabins and pillage? No. Swedes aren’t inviting people to be Vikings. The law means you can pick some chantrelles in the forrest, it doesn’t mean pick the lock on the cabin.

Business Insider Nordic | The country of Sweden just became the world’s first to be listed on Airbnb -…