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December 19, 2005
Eminent domain an important tool. Voice of youth off the mark.
Crain's
With a note of paternal pride, Greg David's Dec. 5 column "Eminent domain revisited up close and personal" credits his school-age daughter's objection to eminent domain with swaying his own editorial opinion against the right of local government to condemn property for purposes of private redevelopment.
In this instance one needs to have been around for a few decades--through some of the bad times for America's cities--to understand why state and local governments need the power of eminent domain to stimulate private investment in times and places where the market is failing.
Over many years, the power of condemnation has provided a means to eliminate blighting conditions and assemble sites for development of affordable housing, job-generating commercial activity and other community development projects. The White Plains example Mr. David cites, in which the county Legislature considered and then rejected a proposal to use eminent domain to benefit a single developer, only serves to demonstrate that local officials take this power seriously.
The past and future renewal of older urban centers depends upon the continued availability of this important revitalization tool.
Kathryn S. Wylde
President and Chief Executive
Partnership for New York City
Posted by lumi at December 19, 2005 09:53 AM