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December 4, 2009
From Kelo to Columbia: What Eminent Domain means now
The Capitol Pressroom
Bad news for Columbia.
The University had plans to expand its campus into west Harlem with the use of newly broadened eminent domain rules, but those plans were thwarted yesterday by the Appellate Division of the NYS Supreme Court which ruled AGAINST Columbia.
This flies in the face of expectations, which were strengthened by a ruling LAST week from a different court which gave Ratner, the private company developing Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, its stamp of approval on eminent domain. That ruling no doubt angered people who live in the Brooklyn neighborhood that Bruce Ratner & the City of NY are “taking” by ED.
Not only is this being watched by constitutional scholars all over the country – it is opening up a huge can of worms for business interests here in New York State: Not only for private companies that want to take over public land for expansion, but for the Empire State Development Corporation, Industrial Development Agencies, and City planners.
One of the foremost experts on eminent domain, Patricia Salkin will be joining us to figure it all out, plus I am working on getting reaction from the Empire State Development Corporation....
Listen live this morning at 11 a.m.
Posted by eric at December 4, 2009 8:28 AM