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September 17, 2008
As Projects Cue Up, Louder Calls for Stricter Eminent Domain Laws
New York Observer
by Eliot Brown
It's been something of an eminent domain-filled day so far, with three events focusing on the state and city's ability to acquire private land, particularly for economic development: First a hearing, then a press conference, and a scheduled court appearance.
...State Senator Bill Perkins, along with Senators Velmanette Montgomery and Efrain Gonzales, held a hearing this morning in Harlem where he said he intends to create a commission to study reform of New York's eminent domain laws. While most states saw a backlash against its use following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo v. City of New London in 2005, New York's laws went unchanged.
"Something has to be done," Mr. Perkins said. "We're going to put together the commission," and work to pass new legislation.
NoLandGrab: Today's court appearance was actually the appeal of the community challenge to the Atlantic Yards Environmental Impact Statement, not the use of eminent domain. That state case has yet to be heard.
Posted by eric at September 17, 2008 8:47 PM