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December 19, 2005

Use should be limited to public projects

Crain's, Letter to the Editor

Greg David should listen to his daughter. Eminent domain should be used exclusively for public-use projects, not for private development projects like the proposed Columbia University expansion plan in West Harlem and Forest City Ratner's plan in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Businesses and homeowners should not be forced out of their communities if they choose not to sell to a developer. The taking of private property by the government and effectively transferring it to another private owner is antithetical to the principles and values of America.

The use of eminent domain has run amok. It is time to end the abuse of eminent domain by having government officials change their practice, or by passing state legislation or judicial decree.

Norman Siegel
Attorney at Law

Posted by lumi at December 19, 2005 09:56 AM