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August 31, 2006
EMINENT DOMAINIA: Long Branch edition
The Institute for Justice is back in the news. The "merry band of litigators" that fought the Kelo v. New London case all the way to the US Supreme Court, and recently scored a win for homeowners in Norwood, OH, have joined up with the homeowners in the MTOTSA neighborhood of Long Branch, NJ to fight the town's attempt to raze the seaside community to build a more upscale seaside community.
The similarity between Long Branch and Brooklyn
NoLandGrab has occasionally linked news about Long Branch because the issue of forced private-property transfer, from one owner to another, is a major sore spot in Bruce Ratner's attempt to build a community from scratch in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
The differences
The main difference between the two plans, aside from the size and scope, is that Long Branch's plan was supposedly crafted in a city planning process, while Ratner's Atlantic Yards was crafted by the development company itself. Whether or not Long Branch is following that plan is one aspect of the homeowner's legal case.
Also, NJ's public advocate has joined the fight against eminent domain abuse, while NYC's Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum, is in denial about Bruce Ratner intention to use eminent domain to seize private property in Prospect Heights (it's her understanding that he won't).
The press coverage
AP, via Houston Chronicle, Group Files Appeal for NJ Homeowners
Asbury Park Press, Eminent domain appeal is fight for property rights
The Newark Star-Ledger, Activists and state to fight home seizures in Long Branch
Asbury Park Press, Public advocate joins eminent-domain foes
Posted by lumi at August 31, 2006 8:57 AM