We claim this borough in the name of Columbia!

[Columbia2002]

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ok columbia and educational institutes definitely do lead to more public welfare than a mall, columbia does a ton of community service which serves the public wellbeing. but yes columbia university is not precisely a public good. Although in many ways it’s used as one, like residents bringing their children to the lawns and using it as a park in the evenings, or the free internet access on terminals at the entrances of buildings. your refusal to see a spectrum, of what leads to the betterment of the area, isn’t taking this thread anywhere.

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<p>I refuse to see a spectrum, for one, because the whole “public purpose” concept is BS.</p>

<p>And perhaps a mall provides more a public benefit than a university expansion? Malls bring jobs to the area. Malls generate tax revenues. Malls bring conveniences to people. Malls bring competition that allows people to get things cheaper. Malls can rejuvenate a blighted area.</p>

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um the goodwill is being overestimated here, the major business obstinately staying there, is a storage warehouse, yes there is established goodwill but how much. Moreover columbia is already paying well above market price to all they are displacing. it is absolutely in the land owners interest to inflate his business’s value, and he will continue to do so unless there’s an ultimatum, basics of game theory C02, you should be very familiar with this. the government can step in when the overwhelming ultilitarian interests are blocked. That being said, columbia is committed to negotiation and eminent domain is not on the horizon.

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<p>In your opinion, why is it the government’s place to step in and force an unwilling seller to convey his property to a private buyer? What’s the source of your belief that this should happen? Do you believe in natural rights? Or do you believe that the government has a duty to interfere with a private transaction when it deems such interference to be efficient to society as whole?</p>

<p>The existence of eminent domain as an option – whether or not Columbia denies that it’s thinking about using it – affects the negotiation dynamics.</p>