Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Bill would end federal eminent domain aid

From the Daily News:

A proposed federal law could hinder the city’s bid to revamp Willets Point, business owners there are hoping.

But a city official said the bill, which would discourage municipalities from taking private property for economic development, could also squash future unrelated revitalization projects.

Willets Point United, a vocal group of stakeholders there, has long contended the city’s use of eminent domain to take their land for a mixed-use development is unfair and unethical.

“Does this sound like it should be happening in America?” attorney Michael Rikon said to an applauding crowd gathered around him at a Sunoco gas station in Willets Point on Thursday.

The bill, dubbed the “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012,” would cut federal funding to government agencies that use their power of eminent domain for economic development — putting the city’s plans for Willets Point in jeopardy. Eminent domain was traditionally used for public projects such as hospitals and schools, but the U.S. Supreme Court has taken a more sweeping interpretation of what constitutes a “public” project.

The group wants U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to support the bill, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 28, but is pending Senate approval.

The act would also prohibit the federal government from using eminent domain for economic development.

Meanwhile, a similar bill is making its way through the state legislature, said state Sen. Tony Avella, a Willets Point United supporter.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would be most welcome.

But the icing on the cup cake would be seeing "granny" Shulman fitted for an orange jump suit.

Not to worry, though...
not even the homeliest dyke in the cell block would want to jump her bones.

Anonymous said...

Keep the heat turned up high...
Willets Point United.

Roast that old cow...Shulman!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, the Daily News omitted the statement of a Willets Point property owner during the news conference, to the effect that what Bloomberg is attempting to do at Willets Point, has now been deemed inappropriate by the entire U.S. House of Representatives (which passed the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2012 on February 28), not to mention the 44 states other than New York that have passed their own local laws to prohibit or curtail the use of eminent domain for economic development, and not to mention the Queens civic associations which collectively represent 10,000 households, which have adopted resolutions opposing New York's existing eminent domain law and calling for the type of reforms that the House bill would impose. It is Bloomberg who is unjustifiably going against the strong public sentiment throughout the entire country.

Anonymous said...

do not hold your breathe waiting for Schumer and Gillibrand (DEMS) and most of the nys Dem. members of the House of Reps.to vote with any Tax Enough Already patriots.

they are the politicians who initiated letters to the D.O.J. and I.R.S, to scrutinize and investigate the T.E.A. Party groups all over the U.S.

the pro-constitution T.E.A. party groups need contributions now, to pay for the high legal costs of these abuses by the present socialist U.S. government.

this socialist government saw the results of the power of the T.E.A party in the 2010 election and must eliminate it, to assure their spending and taxing futures, in the U.S.

Anonymous said...

if you click the Daily N
ews link or enlarge the photo here , you will recognize DAN HALLORAN G.O.P./CONSERVATIVE CM. from N.E. QUEENS.

i guess his name was INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE Q.C. post ? but thanks for the small photo .

just a reminder, his vote in the U.S.Congress will favor the citizens of Queens.

Eric Holder's(E.Elmhurst) U.S.D.O.J. is A.W.O.L in our Constitutional rights issues ,presently.