New London

PENNACCHIO CONDEMNS "KELO LIGHT"

Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris and Passaic, released the following statement today following the passage of legislation by the Assembly that allows municipalities to seize a resident's private property for private redevelopment. The bill allows this if the inclusion of the property is found necessary, and as long as the non-blighted property is no more than 20 percent of the land mass being designated as needing redevelopment. The legislation does not contain any real safeguards to ensure that a good faith effort has been given in order to save those properties from eminent domain:

BURZICHELLI/GORDON EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM BILL
CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE
Measure Would Set Stricter Parameters for Use of Eminent Domain,
Prevent Abuses in Cases of Private Development

PANTER: PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S EMINENT DOMAIN RECOMMENDATIONS DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH
LEGISLATOR CONTINUES FIGHT TO PROTECT PROPERTY RIGHTS

"He has recommended changes that would make it more difficult for municipalities to abuse eminent domain, but stopped short of fully protecting the fundamental rights of residents to keep their homes and businesses. My bill, A-537, would prohibit the use of eminent domain for private redevelopment purposes for all properties that are up to applicable codes and standards."

GREGG JOINS PROPERTY RIGHTS GROUP IN CALLING FOR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO CURB
EMINENT DOMAIN ABUSE

Allen Calls for Eminent Domain Time Out
Two Year Moratorium and Study Commission

Senator Diane Allen (R-7) has introduced legislation that would temporarily stop the government’s use of eminent domain to take a person’s private property and then hand it off to another private owner. The moratorium on the use of eminent domain would last for two years. The legislation also creates a bi-partisan study commission which is charged with reviewing the implications of last summer’s United States Supreme Court decision Kelo v. New London.

November 3, 2005 Contact Eric Cullen (202) 225-4465