Texas Central Rail 3 Points on Eminent Domain

  1. “CEO Tim Keith said the company takes concerns about eminent domain seriously.”
  2. WIll be transparent, meet in person & make attractive offers.
  3. Texas Central Rail understands that a “person’s property is very personal.”

Texas Central Raill will host more public meetings will occur this fall & opposition remains commited.

KERA News: Opponents Call For More Transparency On The Dallas-To-Houston Bullet Train

Eminent Domain Documentary. Landowners vs. Pipeline. Top 5 Arguments from all sides.

A new documentary details the plight of landowners that oppose the Bluegrass Pipeline. Top 5 complaints from landowners:

  1. companies misled landowners over the type of product in the pipeline by alleging the pipeline was for natural gas instead of natural-gas liquids. 
  2. natural gas liquids are highly flammable
  3. the pipeline serves no public use
  4. surveyors enter property without permission
  5. Oil companies deny trying to mislead or intimidate residents

What was the end result? 

  • Landowners won. The pipeline project was cancelled.
  • Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision that the pipeline partnership cannot use eminent domain because it neither serves a public use nor is it regulated by the Public Service Commission. 

Documentary Information: selluswilder.com

WEKU Documentary Chronicles Grassroots Struggle Against Bluegrass Pipeline

Lack of Eminent Domain Restrictions Causes US to fall to #16 in World Economic Freedom Ranking

What’s this ranking about? The Fraser Institute ranks countries on their economic freedom.

What ranking is the U.S.?  16th

Which counties beat the U.S.?  Hong Kong and Singapore lead the pack and are joined by New Zealand, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Jordan, Ireland, Canada, and the United Kingdom 

Why has the U.S. fallen in rankings? overregulation, civil asset forfeiture, eminent domain, and other factors have combined to make the country much less business-friendly, according to Per Bylund of Oklahoma State University. 

Fraser Institute 2015 Annual Report on Economic Freedom

KRMG: OSU Professor: US sliding badly in terms of economic freedom 

Lege Trend: Strip Cities of Eminent Domain Authority

North Carolina is moving a bill to strip cities of their ability to condemn outside their municipal borders.  The cities will still be able to move forward with eminent domain if they get consent of county commissioners. 

Property rights activists have been singing this tune in Texas for years as cities in Texas use their powers in their ETJ.

HB 875 North Carolina Legislature

Go Blue Ridge.Net | Eminent Domain Bill Moving

HiCounty Press: Soucek Adavances Bill restricting Eminent Domain 

 

 

NFL Stadium Backers Gain Eminent Domain on Unanimous Vote

St. Louis NFL backers gained the power of eminent domain this week when the Regional Sports Authority voted unanimously to allow for eminent domain.

The Regional Sports Authority Chairman said he did not expect to use eminent domain, but it is available if necessary.

The new Riverfront stadium is in the planning stage and has spent $9 million with “no commitment from any NFL owner… to invest $250 million in the plan.” Whther the Rams stay or go is anticipated to be announced by the NFL in January.

CBS St. Louis: St. Louis NFL Stadium Backers Gain Power of Eminent Domain

10 years. $19 Million Verdict. Win for Land Owners Battling Eminent Domain.

The Legal Decision a Win for Landowners. Landowners in Long Beach, New York prevailed in court this week when an appeal by the city was denied.

$5.5M per landowner for undervalued land in eminent domain. The decision awards $19 million for land values, attorney fees and costs, plus interest to land owners. Each landowner was underpaid for property at the roughly $5.5 million each.

What is the city doing with this land? A Developer wants to build luxury apartments, retail space, and a boardwalk. It was a 2006 effort to revitalize the area.

Long Island Herald: Long Beach Superblock appeal denied

Private Property Rights: 3 Reasons why Red States Act Now on Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform & 6 Reforms via TPPF

TPPF tells us red states are moving to reform cvil asset forfeiture laws because:

  • affront to central conservative ideals of property rights]
  • affront to due process of law
  • affront to the rule of law  

Recommended reforms:

  • abolish civil asset forfeiture entirely
  • prohibit or regulate asset sharing with the federal government
  • implement loser pay, so that the government pays attorney fees for innocent citizens
  • require the state to “substantiate the property owner’s involvement in a crime before forfeiting property”
  • require asset forefeiture funds to “go to an account managed by an external entity with oversight on the forfeiting agency”
  • require the publishing and reporting of asset values of forfeited property 

Eminent Domain by Aliens from Outer Space. Eminent Domain Hits Area 51.

The Aliens are Coming. The U.S. Airforce controls Area 51 in the Nevada desert. To enlarge its alien collection, or some other non-tin foil hat reason, the U.S. Air Force wants to expand Area 51.

Private Property Rights are Gold- literally in Nevada. Rural Nevadans are a lot like Texans- independent minded- and land loving. 

The Feds want to acquire mining lands. The Sheahans have owned hundreds of acres since the 1880s. They’ve buried their family members on the land. The U.S. Ariforce wants to buy 400 acres of mining land for $5.2 million. The fmaily says with mining rights, the property is worth $29 million.  (Note to self: silicon valley uses a lot of materials mined from Nevada)

Federal Courts will Decide. The family has fought eminent domain for most of the 20th century. 

CNN Wire | Fox4KC: Family with land next to Area 51 says U.S. Air Force is using Eminent Domain

Inquisitir: Airforce Asks Courts to Condemn Area 51 Land

 

Eminent Domain Protest of Pipeline. Raise new issue: Unfair Commercial Appraisals.

Who: Joint forces of private property rights advocates & environmentalists

What: Protesting the Constitution Pipeline in New York

Why does this matter? Because this trend was started by Texans. Willie Nelson headlined a concert protesting Keystone XL Pipeline. 

What they’re saying: 

  • threats to landowners
  • moving toxic waste through greenspace
  • commercial appraisals are low on oil and gas facilities, which hurts communities 

Watershed Post: Scores protest pipelines at rally in Franklin

 

Club for Growth Hits Trump on Eminent Domain. 3 Attack by Attack Points.

  1. $1 Million spent on 3 ads in Iowa
  2. ““Trump supports eminent domain abuse  …  Trump, the worst kind of politician,”
  3. Trump attacks back.
    1. Yes, he supports more taxes on top earners
    2. This attack is because Trump wouldn’t give Club for Growth $1million donation in June

Christian Science Monitor: Conservative Club for Growth slams Trump: Empire Striking Back?

CBS News: Conservative Club for Growth launches $1 million anti-Donald Trump campaign

Washington Times: Donald Trump is economic liberal, Club For Growth warns