Has PA abandoned citizens over eminent domain ?

Yes, we have been a little bit quiet. But we have been thinking. Thinking about what we’ve been fighting, and apparently won. But we have also been thinking about others in not so distant communities only just beginning to experience what we experienced, or still suffering.

Chester County, PA, in particular seems rife with eminent domain, or the threat of. And the threat of eminent domain is just as bad. And it’s not just Chester County that has eminent domain worries. Just new to our radar today and we don’t know much but there are several situations brewing in Berks County.

Where are our state legislators on eminent domain? People across this country keep referring to Pennsylvania as having “model” legislation. (Refer to http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060308-092040-6645r.htm and http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/3132006_Eminent_Domain_Legislation.asp ). Gee, that’s rich, because we LIVE in Pennsylvania, and all we see is STALLED legislation. Stalled legislation is a model of boondoggling, but that’s about all.

Right now, we are of an opinion that Pennsylvania is losing its opportunity to be a model of eminent domain legislation, and playing politics is getting in the way of eminent domain and blight reforms that are so desperately needed. (Refer to http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/324 and http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/382 ) .

“411” to incumbents seeking re-election and the new kids to the party: it is NOT all about the slots parlors and gambling! People in Pennsylvania are targeted every day over eminent domain and bogus blight!

In the Governor’s race in PA neither Ed Rendell NOR Lynn Swann have said a peep publicly about eminent domain. That is inexcusable. Mind you, we know citizens have asked. These politicians and their camps so don’t wish to delve into this that they don’t even seem to acknowledge inquiries on the topic.

For example, one of our members recently sent a letter about eminent domain and pending legislation to Philadelphia native John Estey, Rendell’s Chief of Staff or something like that. No response. No acknowledgement. Nothing.

All state reps and state senators say (if anything) on eminent domain legislation is “it’s pending”.

Now our Congressman Jim Gerlach isn’t in the least reticent about discussing eminent domain, and he’s working to help Americans everywhere, not just locally, to survive eminent domain abuse. People keep asking his opponent Lois Murphy where she stands on eminent domain, only her campaign doesn’t seem to respond to queries on this topic. Why IS Lois so “shy” about discussing eminent domain? Ummm, dare we say it, but it isn’t just a local issue. It’s a state wide issue. It’s a sixth district issue. It’s a national issue. One would think that a woman so hot on ethics reform would be hot on eminent domain and blight reform, but who knows? Do you know?

Pennsylvania is floundering in so many ways. You can’t just develop today and worry about tomorrow later. And Pennsylvania can’t be a model of eminent domain reform when nothing’s doing on the legislation. Here’s some stuff to put on the radar:

In Chester County, eminent domain is ready to pounce on homes and farms. Why? School sprawl and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission:

East Whiteland Township Chester County: 73 year old widow Dolores "D" Solitario, will lose her family farm complete with 18th century restored farmhouse to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, so they can build a slip ramp or something else that will undoubtedly create another bad road project that may or may not work when all is said and done.

Double crime here? Main Line Animal Rescue (www.mlar.org) houses their homeless pets here while they wait for new humans to love. Who will help these pets find a new place to hang their leashes? Also on the property is a beauty salon that caters to a lot of elderly locals. Further note that other neighboring properties are also affected.

Refer to http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16336635&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6

http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/496

Upper Uwchlan, Chester County: Downingtown Area School District’s unhealthy interest in the land along Robert W. Fetters Jr. along Milford Road has locals there concerned. Undoubtedly, this need to take land here is in direct correlation to the unfettered residential land development. This falls also under our favorite category of those who develop today without a clear vision of tomorrow. Developers and townships need to be held more accountable – you can’t just build and build without consequences. We bet land development and “smart” growth would be a hell of a lot “smarter” if developers had to say, donate land parcels for say future school needs when going into formerly more rural areas, or had to pay into a money pool set aside for infrastructure improvements.

Refer to: http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/524

Malvern, Chester County: Great Valley School District wants the land and dream house of the Cassidy’s to expand the school’s property and athletic fields “eventually”.

Envision this: So, you work hard, you buy a nice piece of land and build your dream house....the house many long nights and gazing at magazines and saying “what if” is built out of....and BOOM! Real estate development causes a large population surge, and you become a target and end result of poor planning.

The Cassidy’s should be able to keep their piece of the American Dream, shouldn’t they?

Refer to: http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/528

http://www.theeveningbulletin.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16254512&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576325&rfi=6

Residents protest land seizure (from www.dailylocal.com )
Excerpt:
“EAST WHITELAND -- Tempers flared for several residents Monday, as they condemned the Great Valley School Board’s decision to acquire property from a local family through a negotiate agreement of eminent domain.

"There’s not many hearts or morals here. I’m ashamed of all of you," said Sally Cummings, a Republican committee member from Willistown. "This is not the way to treat people. I am ashamed and I hope it shows at the next elections."

At issue was the board’s resolution at its meeting on Feb. 13, "to take all such actions necessary and appropriate to complete acquisition of the property" in the 200 block of Phoenixville Pike, in Malvern.

The 1.5-acre parcel is owned by Patrick and Karen Cassidy, who built their home on the land about 20 years ago.”

Full text:
http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16259280&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6

In Berks County, developmental sprawl is probably one of the villains in this county as well. In Berks County, there are issues like all roads lead to WalMart, and other good stuff:

Spring Township, Berks County: Must all roads lead to WalMart? http://www.nospringwalmart.com/ This is totally new as an issue to us, so we don’t have much on the radar YET (give us time!). The story as we know it : under the guise of “economic development”, land in Berks may go to build a road leading to WalMart. That is private gain, and isn’t Sam Walton rich enough? Someone told us that the land in question is owned by Penn State-Berks County?

Refer to: http://www.nospringwalmart.com/nospringwalmart/feeds.asp

http://www.nospringwalmart.com/nospringwalmart/flashnewstraffic1.htm

http://www.nospringwalmart.com/nospringwalmart/viewblog.asp

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/

http://walmartwatch.com/

Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County: in 2005 there was a dust up over eminent domain - we don’t know what happened. Refer to: http://www.wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=viewstory&storyid=7913

West Reading, Pennsylvania – As per the Castle Coalition, The Berks County Redevelopment Authority filed a suit in November 2005 to seize the Penn View Motel by eminent domain. The city plans to bulldoze the motel and hand the land over to a private developer for a bank, a restaurant and commercial office space. http://www.castlecoalition.org/current_controversies/index.html also refer to: http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=viewstory&storyid=13852

More fun on the web here:

http://wfmz.com.ldh0105.fast.net/online/content/view/652/69/

http://democracyforberks.com/

http://wfmzcom.dws0164.fast.net/LawJournal/LJ-0611.wmv

http://www.readingeagle.com/blog/zeke/archives/2006/01/walmart_superce.html

http://exetertownship.scabmichigan.com/

http://www.preservationpa.org/files/publications/Risk05.pdf

http://www.blankrome.com/publications/Articles/ominsky02.asp

http://www.mcall.com/news/specials/all-5r222apr04,0,326480.story

http://www.phil.frb.org/cca/Cascade_Winter05.pdf

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49554