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January 18, 2008
An Unnecessary Abuse
The New York Sun
by Dick Carpenter
In an Op-Ed piece, the Director of Strategic Research for the Institute for Justice, citing a new IJ study, challenges claims that reining in the use of eminent domain negatively affects economic development:
The widespread abuse of eminent domain across New York is giving new life to the nickname the Empire State. Virtual empires benefiting private interests — secured through government force — are springing up especially across New York City. For example:
• Columbia University seeks land that rightfully belongs to its West Harlem neighbors so it can expand its campus.
• Developer Bruce Ratner has received carte blanche from the city to seize properties that stand in the way of his Atlantic Yards, an unpopular cluster of skyscrapers and a "public" arena, which the city will lease to Mr. Ratner for $1 for 99 years with Mr. Ratner reaping all the profits.
• After decades of refusing to provide basic municipal services, the city is now considering a proposal to condemn more than 200 thriving businesses in Willets Point in Queens to give the land to a private developer.
Thanks to vocal beneficiaries of eminent domain abuse, like Mayor Bloomberg and his developer friends, New York is one of the few states that has not passed any meaningful eminent domain reform, this despite leading the nation in takings for private gain.
Eminent domain enthusiasts defend their position by predicting economic doomsday if their power of eminent domain is in any way restrained. Despite countless examples to the contrary, Mayor Bloomberg insists, "You would never build any big thing any place in any big city in this country if you didn't have the power of eminent domain." It's that kind of hyperbole that has led New York City officials to use eminent domain for the private gain of politically connected developers over hard-working, tax-paying New Yorkers.
New research released this week, however, demonstrates Mr. Bloomberg's dire warnings regarding eminent domain are not to be believed.
Posted by eric at January 18, 2008 11:11 AM