by Timothy Sandefur Prof. Ilya Somin has some thoughts on the new California laws, and points out that SB 1650, which I said might have some actual teeth in it, probably isn't even as protective as I suggested. And at … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur Finally, SB 1809 (Machado), the fifth and final eminent domain bill signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger today, would add a truly meaningless bureaucratic disclosure requirement to current eminent domain law. It would require a redevelopment agency to file … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur SB 1650 (by Sen. Kehoe) would limit the government's power to change the use to which condemned property is taken. Not long ago, there was a notorious case in which Los Angeles seized land for an animal … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur SB 1210 (by Senator Tom Torlakson of Antioch) requires the government to pay a person's attorney's fees in cases where the court finds that the government failed to offer a property owner a "reasonable" amount of money … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur SB 1206, also by Sen. Kehoe, purports to narrow the statutory definition of "blight." This is important, because as I've often noted, California's legal definition of "blight" is so vague that virtually any property can be declared … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur Today, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed five bills into law, which purport to protect Californians against the abuse of eminent domain. While any new protection for California’s abused property owners is certainly welcome, these bills merely add … Continue reading
by Timothy Sandefur I’m delighted to report that Bob Blue, owner of the Bernard Luggage Store at the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood, California, is going to be allowed to keep his property after all. The 70 year … Continue reading