Apple meets Rapid Transit and Eminent Domain. The Big Dog is Apple. Eminent Domain Role Reversal.

What transportation project may impact Apple facilities? Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) wants to connect San Francisco to San Jose by adding BART down the penninsula.

An Apple facility is part of the plan? Yes, an Apple facility is planend to be used for construction and may be a transit hub.

How is eminent domain playing? Officials are concerned that eminent domain will be expensive as Apple has spent millions on upgrades to the facility

Business Insider | A secret Apple warehouse is on land the government wants for a new Silicon Valley train station

 

Be Aware. New Texas Lawyers Bone up on Eminent Domain. 3 Points of Intel to Know Now.

This year Texas law schools began offering classes specifically focused on eminent domain.

UT’s class will  look at the “tension between the public’s need to accommodate growth and private property rights.” u of H will follow this fall with a similar course.

UT’s class is believed to be the only class in the nation focused on private proeprty rights & eminent domain.

 

 

 

UPDATE from High Speed Rail. Feds to Answer whether High Speed Rail must follow Texas Eminent Domain Laws?

Update: High Speed Rail replies to Ennis County:

  • Texas Central” does not seek to remove protections afforded to landowners under Texas law”
  • Texas Central Surface transportation Request … “does not change or override any state landowner protections.”

Ennis Daily News | HSR rebuffs claims

 

May 8, 2016, Informed Intel:

The Ellis County Press published an Op-Ed from Texans Against High Speed Rail.

What points does Texans Against High Speed Rail make in its Op-Ed?

  • Texas Central Rail doesn’t have its funding in place
  • Texas Central Rail has no problems using eminent domain to take land it doesn’t need
  • Texas Central Rail is asking the federal government whether it has to comply with Texas eminent domain laws

Ellis County Press | TCR proposes to acquire land it ultimately won’t use to satisfy investors

Private Property Rights: 1st City in US Addresses Blight By Treating the Source.

What city is addressing blight by “treating the source?” Memphis

How much blight is in Memphis? 16% of housing stock is vacant

What are the 3 goals of the Memphis Neighborhood Blight Elimination Charter? 

  • economic development
  • quality of life
  • coordination among exisiting local governmental agencies that tackle blight

What entities are involved with the Memphis Nighborhood Blight Elimination Center?

  • nine government agencies
  • nonprofits
  • private businesses

What were tangential legislative changes that dovetail into the Charter?

  • Shortening the time that delinquent taxpayers have to redeem their properties — from one year to 30 days 
  • Memphis City Council created a land bank that razes, cleans up, and will buy blighted properties

Memphis Neighborhood Blight Eliminiation Charter

Governing | It Takes a Village: The Idea Behind Memphis’ Anti-Blight Strategy

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. From the Right. 3 Reasons Cities Should NOT Block Short Term Rentals.

Cities should not block short term rentals because:

  • Its an economic boon that levels peak pricing by hotels
  • It frees “trapped capital” like the unused spare bedroom
  • It is not shown to make housing less affordable

The solution to neighborhood concerns:

  • Amend existing noise or traffic ordinances

Trib Talk | Josiah Neeley | R Street Institute | Texas cities shouldn’t block short-term rentals

TRENDING. INTERIM. SHARING ECONOMY. Private property rights. Short Term Rentals.

Which city is moving forward to regulate short term rentals after “animal house” complaints? Chicago

What regulations are being considered?

  • Commerical regulation for any property rented out for more than 90 days within 1 year
  • 4% surcharge to online rentals with revenue dedicated to homeless services

Chicago may regulate Airbnb home sharing amid ‘Animal House’-style complaints | Chicago Tribune 

TRENDING: Eminent Domain for Drug Prices. 3 Key Pieces of Intel.

A group of physicians writing in the Washington Post argue the federal government should be able to use eminent domain for drug prices. 

The intel:

  • The federal government has the power to use patents
  • The federal government has used this “eminent domain” power of drugs in 2001
    • It was used as leverage during the 2001 anthrax attacks when the federal government suggested it would import the drugs rather than buy the drugs through Bayer. Bayer lowered its price and reached an argeement with the feds.
  • Phamraceutical company compensation could be set adequately to ensure an “adequate return and protect companies’ incentives to invest in innovation”

 

A simple way for the government to curb inflated drug prices | Washington Post Op-Ed

INTERIM. Kelo Film at Cannes. Eminent Domain Movie in France. US Theaters Later this Year.

Little Pink House, a film starring an Oscar nominee, tells the story of Suzette Kelo and her eminent domain fight against the City of New London, CT.

 “This film tells the real-life story of Susette Kelo, a blue-collar woman who dared to stand up against white-collar powerbrokers, and Susette’s inspirational story is conveyed with power and grace by the wonderfully talented Catherine Keener.”

Theatrical release will be late 2016. 

Northernstars | News from Cannes 

7 Texas Counties. For Private Property Rights. Against Eminent Domain.

Which County Commissioners voted to oppose Texas Central Rail high speed rail plan? Navarro County Commissioners 

The number of counties staking claim to official opposition: 7

The basis for the opposition in Navarro County? Oppose the granting of eminent domain authority to the private high speed rail

County Judge names legislators who support the County Commissioner opposition resulation: Representative Byron Cook and Senator Brian Birdwell

Corsicana Daily Sun | County Commissioners oppose High Speed Rail