We claim this borough in the name of Columbia!

[Columbia2002]

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Without the “threat” of eminent domain–a costly and lenghty process–expansion for the public good would be almost impossible in such a densely populated & heavily developed area.

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<p>What’s a public good? Eminent domain was originally intended for public USE – building roads, natural resources, etc. Allowing private corporations (that’s what Columbia is) to take peoples’ land with government approval is not a public use. Saying something will be in the “public good” is speculative and hardly ever pans out.</p>

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Fair compensation for property often must be decided by the courts through the use of eminent domain. While this is not a perfect system, it is the best that is available.

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<p>It’s a terrible system. Eminent domain proceedings undercompensate people. They don’t pay businesses for goodwill and don’t reimburse the costs of moving somewhere else.</p>

<p>In addition, it gives the taker 100% of the “premium” and totally excludes the victim from the “pie.”</p>

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The potential use of eminent domain is necessary in order to carry out a planned expansion of this magnitude in such a densely populated area so that a few real property owners cannot derail the entire project by holding out for what might be deemed “unreasonable compensation”.

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<p>They should be able to hold out. If the taker is going to derive great profits from the expansion, they can afford to pay the hold-out price. Why should the hold-outs not be entitled to negotiate for part of the expansion premium? If it’s not worth it for the taker to pay the hold-out price, then the project probably doesn’t have the economic value that he thinks it has. And he shouldn’t then use the government to alter those dynamics.</p>