Liberty Maven

News Blaze has an interesting article by someone on the inside, describing how dangerous giving eminent domain powers to the government can be. L.K. Samuels was elected to a citizen’s committee in Seaside, CA and was treated to an eye-opening experience:

What I failed to anticipate was how government systems truly operate on the local level. I assumed that government this close to the citizenry would be fair and honest. I had a rude awakening. The city spent thousands of dollars trying to convince my committee about the benefits of eminent domain, while simultaneously saying they were taking a neutral stand.

The city worked hard to try to convince them that having eminent domain powers was good for everyone, but the citizenry told a different story.

We first heard from those in the auto repair industry, who felt that they were unwanted in Seaside. They said that if their property was taken, they would be unable to relocate in Seaside. I asked why. They said that there was no land zoned for their type of business. In fact, they had already been zoned out of their current location. If their building were ever to burn down, they could not rebuild.

[...]

Business owners said that they had tried to redevelop their property but city officials blocked their attempts. One businessman wanted to construct four apartments or condos on a second floor, the exact mixed-use formula that Seaside authorities claim to encourage. But at every turn, he was turned down. Finally, they told him they did not have enough water credits for his project.

[...]

This woman owned a property in a hot eminent domain area. She refused to be bought out, although the Seaside Redevelopment Agency had threatened her with eminent domain. When her tenants left, she attempted to rent out the property. Every time she had an interested tenant, the city government refused to grant a use permit. After three years without rental income, the woman was forced to sell the property to the government at a price she considered unfair.

Samuels’ conclusion is disheartening:

I got the feeling that the city only wanted massive redevelopment projects that brought in big tax revenues. Perhaps this was why Seaside’s elected official ignored their own citizen’s committee’s 7 to 1 recommendation not to reinstate this power, as well as the voter-approved Prop. 99. All five city council members voted to reinstate eminent domain powers. They completely ignored the wishes of the citizens. From my position, it looked like the government was more interested in helping itself to future tax revenues than in helping the community.

Read the entire article here.