Fighting Eminent Domain
The WaPo has a piece on fighting eminent domain. One I find interesting (and by interesting I mean made up):
About 90 percent of condemnations, however, involve properties acquired for purely public purposes, and they make up most eminent domain actions, said James L. Thompson, a Rockville real estate lawyer whose firm has handled more than 200 eminent domain actions over 25 years.
I don’t think that’s hardly the case. I follow the issue and read about it quite a bit. Most cases I see (at least in the press) involve taking from one private party to transfer to another. Like this one:
In March, airport officials said they wanted to take over Cramer’s Airport Parking, a neighboring business, and develop the land for privately run, airport-related operations, such as a cargo base or maintenance facility. The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which owns HIA, has offered to pay about $1.57 million for the property.
May 9th, 2005 at 9:08 am
Even if the statistic were true, who cares? It’s a veiled attempt to make it sound respectable.
“About 90% of criminals put to death really deserved it.”
“About 90% of people given tickets really were speeding.”
“About 90% of football refs are accurate.”
That’s all good and done, unless you are in the 10%.