Welcome to the Future!
The high speed rail project: Texas Central Rail, Dallas-Houston line
The court: a Harris County Court
The issue the court was considering: precondemnation access to land by the rail
Why landowners claim victory: The request for access to the land was withdrawn
Why high speed rail claims victory: No meaningful decision was made by the court
Houston Chronicle | High-speed rail land dispute lands in Houston court
The State: Tennessee
The County Resolutions: Urge the State Legislature to prohibit eminent domain to benefit private projects
Is this bigger than banning eminent domain for private entities? yes, it calls for a prohibition on government use of eminent domain to benefit a private entity
Jefferson County TN Standard Bearer | Carmichael re-elected as chairman
I’m confused, what’s happening? Palo Alto California wants to use eminent domain to keep a mobile home park as a mobile home park
What does this do to the property owner? Prevents the owner from selling the land to a developer for other purposes
The public pupose asserted: Maintaining low income housing
Fox News | ‘Flatly unconstitutional’: Mobile park owners fight gov’t bid to block redevelopment
What project using eminent domain is being affected? The Dakota Pipeline
What court is intervening to pause work on the pipeline while the legal issues are resolved? The D.C. Circuit
Why are we dealing with the D.C. Circuit? Tribal lands are sovereign lands.
The number of arrests at the Dakota pipeline eminent domain protest.
KWQC | 43 people were arrested during Dakota Access Pipeline protest
Where: California
What is this new delectable eminent domain tool? community revitalization and investment authorities (CRIA) that allow local governments to redevelop land with eminent domain
The estimated threat of eminent domain: 78% of private property could be threatened by eminent domain.
Eminent Domain isn’t the only concern of property rights activists: If property is included in a CRIA the local governments can fund new bond incremental financing
In 2011, CRIAs received 12% of all statewide property tax revenue.
National Review | The Golden State’s New Eminent-Domain Temptation
Where: Georgia
Why does the sapce port need eminent domain? Because of the frequency of launches, land surrounding the area may need to be condemned for safety purposes.
What state law impediment exists? In 2006, Georgia amended its eminent domain laws to require a public purpose, and it’s believed space travel does not meet that standard.
WABE Atlantat’s NPR | Safety, Legal Issues Could Ground Georgia Spaceport Plans
Get them all! Good for Pokemon players. Not good for property owners whose private proeprty contains pokemons.
Where are Pokemon players gathering in mass? A Florida condo complex
What kind of lawsuit did the condo association file against the makers of Pokemon? Nuisance
The condos lawsuit calls the hoards of Pokemon players “zombies, walking around bumping into things”
Law.com | Fla. Condo Latest to Sue Over Hordes of Pokémon Players
A PAC in the east wants a city to use eminent domain to create a co-op grocer to provide affordable food and necessities.
Where in the world is this waldo? Charleston, SC
What did this PAC name itself? Lowcountry Up Is Good
What does the PAC say its goal is? to “establish a community cooperative grocery to provide affordable food and necessities to the surrounding community and accessible transit riders.”
What should this PAC name itself? Robinhood. No cash. Just food and Goods.
The Post & Courier | Eminently sound tip: Buy low, sell high
These high profile Texans signed an ad that ran in the Dallas Morning News opposing the Trans Pecos Pipeline:
Who organized the ad? Big Bend Conservation Alliance
Other celebs involved in anti-pipeline/anti-eminent domain issues: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tommy Lee Jones, Jason Mamoa, Exra Miller, Ray Fisher, Pharrell Williams, Susan Sarandon, and Shailene Woodley