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August 27, 2005
Council to attack land grabs
From the Brooklyn Papers:
A bill was introduced in the City Council this week that would bar the city from using eminent domain solely for economic development purposes and prohibit city funds from being used for such projects.Eighteen council members signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation, drafted by Prospect Heights Councilwoman Letitia James. The legislation came in response to a June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that affirmed the right of state governments to take private property in the name of economic development.
The bill, if passed before developer Bruce Ratner works out a deal to purchase development rights from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and then gains state environmental approval for his Atlantic Yards plan, could cut half of the $200 million committed to the project by the city and state.
Posted by amy at August 27, 2005 10:27 AM