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June 24, 2005
Local coverage on Kelo and the Atlantic Yards Land Grab
Supreme Court's Kelo v. New London ruling mean for Bruce Ratner's plans for NY State to evict homeowners in the footprint of his Atlantic Yards development proposal? Here's the local coverage:
NY Sun, Property Ruling Could Affect N.Y. Development
One of the nation's pre-eminent legal scholars of eminent domain, Columbia University Law Prof. Thomas Merrill, had some cautionary words for jubillant politicians and developers:
[Merrill] said the court warned it would apply more stringent standards in cases where a local government invokes eminent domain for a project by a private developer, such as with the Atlantic Yards development.
“The court responded more favorably to New London than they would have if it had been the Ratner plan they were considering,” Mr. Merrill said. “The overall message of the case is a cautionary one, that the court is willing to go along with the use of eminent domain this time, but if something extreme happens, they could change their mind.”
NY Daily News, Home's up for grabs. Ruling raises anxiety in the city
Quotes from Councilmember James, DDDb spokesperson Goldstein, civil-rights attorney Norman Seigel and esteemed eminent domain attorney Michael Rikon. No comment from Ratner spokesperson Joe DePlasco.
NY Sun Opinion, Eminent Danger
It's hard to imagine a Supreme Court decision more fraught for New Yorkers than that handed down yesterday in Kelo et al v. City of New London et al, in which the court signaled that no property is safe from the government seizing it for vague "economic development" purposes.
Brooklyn Papers, SUPREME COURT OKS HOME SEIZURES
Quotes from Tish James and Dan Goldstein and assurances from Marty.
Patti Hagan makes a good point about the use of eminent domain for larget-scale private development:
Supposedly it’s [to bring in] more taxes, but in fact, every one of these developers get such enormous tax subsidies and tax exemptions on property taxes, that I’m not sure exactly how much of a benefit it is. At least for the first 25 years.
NY Newsday, Reaction to Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court eminent domain decision
NY Post, SUPREMES GIVE NETS HOME-COURT EDGE
Posted by lumi at June 24, 2005 8:43 AM