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October 29, 2008
AMONG HEARTLAND HOMAGES, POLS ADDRESS URBAN ISSUES
One party has stated opposition to the US Supreme Court Kelo decision, which upheld the use of eminent domain for economic development.
In New York and other cities, the use of eminent domain to clear land for economic development is always controversial, be it at Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn or on the area in West Harlem where Columbia University wants to create a new campus. In their platform, Republicans weigh in on the 2005 Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. City of New London, which permits governments to take land for private uses. "That 5-to-4 decision highlights what is at stake in the election of the next president, who may make new appointments to the Court," the platform reads. "We call on state legislatures to moot the Kelo decision by appropriate legislation, and we pledge on the federal level to pass legislation to protect against unjust federal takings."
NoLandGrab: Too bad VP candidate Sarah Palin couldn't remember this plank in her interview with Katie Couric; it would have scored her big points, despite her own record of abuse during her tenure as Mayor of Wasilla.
Even though eminent domain abuse is one of the few issues that crosses party lines, the silence of the Democratic party and the lip-service paid by the GOP indicates who really calls the shots in Washington.
Posted by lumi at October 29, 2008 5:13 AM