Just a little Political Rant:
Some of the 'uninformed' people on 'wardstuff' were trying to tell me who to vote for. They were trying to argue about 'Eminent Domain'. Oh how foolish they were. Do you know what Eminent Domain is? In a nutshell, its the power the government has to take land Under Drastic Circumstances. This is a benefit to the city, because a lovely/desirable neighborhood raises value. A higher value means higher sale prices (taxes), and higher sales taxes (and more taxes). Taxes, in case you were wondering, is Income to the City. Why do you think so many people want to live in Beverly Hills? Its because the city has strict guidelines as to what can be built, where, and every city council has a Design Review Board to approve or dismiss the look of EVERY building that goes up in their city.
The Supreme Court case of 'Kelo vs. New London' was the last major case to highlight the use of Eminent Domain. The city of New London condemned a bunch of land, studied possible outcomes for 5 years, per city rules. Then when the city told the people to finally move out, they threw a fit. The whole court case WASN'T about the Gov. simply taking land from owners, it was about the Supreme Court upholding the guidelines/rules/laws that the city put in place to protect itself, and it followed through with! Why can't the media say that? Its should be so simple.
Let me start this argument by saying that I worked for the city of LA, in the Community Redevelopment Agency for a summer. The government needs such a tool to protect itself from retards who don't keep up their land/business/house, etc! The case which made this popular was in London, RI. The city did a 5 year study proving that 1 neighborhood was causing problems. Then at the end of the 5th year they paid the people to leave. 1 old lady and some Korean dude didn't want to leave after all, and must not have noticed any of the research, or letters, or notices, over those 5 years, cause then they didn't want to leave.
How many of you want crappy neighbors? Do you want to live next to Crack-houses? Or how about people who don't do anything to take care of their yards or buildings? Do you want to live next to the mysterious haunted house? He has the right to do that, right? WRONG! Cities are allowed to enforce their codes FOR MY PROTECTION too! I have a right according to the constitution to 'Life, Liberty, and Property'. So why are people voting to reject the city, (who we all pay taxes to, so they can make my city a more livable place), from keeping my city a nice livable place?! Cities have fewer and fewer tools these days to combat vagrant home/business owners.
This eminent domain is indeed extreme, but its a valid option. They don't simply take it away. They have 3 or 4 different appraisers look at the property, and the city pays the average fair value price! Then they pay for moving expenses, and if you're friendly, they even give you other moving bonuses.
Do you know how hard it is to evict a Deadbeat tenant? It usually takes a landlord no shorter than 90 days to evict someone. And thats already after they've missed at least 2-3 months rent. (for my landlord, in my apartment, that would be at least $10,800!) But who is going to 'evict' the property owner? Thats right, the city. They have strict rules and guidelines, just like we do. So as long as they follow their rules, it all works out fine.
Do you want to live in the slums? Slums don't bring the city any money. The nicer a neighborhood is, the more people want to live there. Cities want nice neighborhoods. When people want to live there, land value goes up. As that happens, the amount of taxes increases. Cities need tax money to pay for newer nicer stuff. The city wants nicer/newer stuff so more people live and shop there. Its a chicken/egg situation, and its just how cities work.
So don't try to tell me how to vote you foolish Wardstuffers! You should inform yourselves to the REAL issues, not the ones the Media tells you to hear!
(feel free to comment on this but please realize (evan and/or danny) no matter how much you try to argue against me, you won't change my mind. Thanks.)
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4 comments:
I wholeheartedly agree with you on eminent domain (in fact, the only reason I went to vote on Tuesday was so that I could vote against those propositions attempting to limit it). The unfortunate reality is that large development projects can't succeed without eminent domain, because even if the developer acquires 90% of the necessary land, there will always be some holdout refusing to sell. I happen to like large development projects--Dodger Stadium, Beverly Center, the downtown LA business district, the former World Trade Center in NYC--to name just a few. And contrary to what opponents claim, eminent domain has a been used in support of so-called "private" development projects for the last forty years.
Very well put DannyDoom. Like you said, most of downtown, was built this way. Otherwise it would be 'Skid-row' times 100.
Okay, I see ya'll's point, BUT eminent domain has also been used as a tool to get rid of low-income minority neighborhoods that some see as an 'eyesore.' So, it can be used as a political tool--the "man" vs. the people. PS--this is my first official post on Jimbo's blog.
Sincerely, B-Diddy
Lets be honest about this 'betania', Eminent Domain is a tool to FIX BAD NEIGHBORHOODS no matter who lives there! If Low-Income people, OR Minorities CAN'T take care of what the government is GIVING them, then they don't deserve to live there! Didn't your parents ever MAKE you clean you room? Blight is "Something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambitions, or impedes progress and prosperity". A city labels a blighted neighborhood ONLY when they recognize that IT CAN'T(won't) FIX ITSELF, and thus drives people away, thus decreasing its value. If you have a worthless employee do you not 'let them go'? If you have a bad student, do you not kick them out of class/punish them?
YOU see it as a tool that 'hurts the people by taking their property', but only cause thats what the media has told you to think!!! (Please start thinking for yourself). What you are saying is that owners can let their property be as shitty as THEY want it to be, with NO consequence?! How selfish of you! What makes them better than me? Ya, and what about ME, the potential neighbor?! Why should I suffer for other peoples stupidity? Don't I have rights?! When was the last time you were IN a Blighted neighborhood, let alone live NEAR one?! (soup kitchens don't count)
Its not 'The Man vs. the people', Its the City vs. the people that don't care about their neighbors and let their property, and their neighborhoods decay into a problem that cannot recover without Drastic help!
Have you ever had pets? Do you not train them? If they Crap in you bed, do you not punish them? Do you let them scratch your drapes/furniture to shreds? People are like animals, they need to be trained. You should know this being a teacher. Do you let your students trample all over you? You shouldn't. And NEITHER SHOULD THE CITY!
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