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Opening Arguments

Commie thugs

For those who wondered how far public officials would try to go in eminent-domain seizures following the Supreme Court's outrageous Kelo decision, the case to watch is the one involving the exclusive Long island country club. Officials want to take it because they think it's a darn nice place and they want to run it themselves, as a public golf course. That's pretty much just taking something from the few and giving it to "everybody." I don't like to throw the term "Commie thugs" around, but there you are. Indiana, thanks to the work of people like Rep. Dave Wolkins, is one of the states acting to tighten up eminent-domain rules after Kelo. That's such a big deal that in most year's it might have been touted as the highlight of the legislative session. But this wasn't most years.

Comments

LP Mike Sylvester
Wed, 03/29/2006 - 9:19am

I am glad Rep. Wolkins stepped forward and made the first small step we needed to make to improve the Eminent Domain laws in Indiana...

That being said, we have a long ways to go; especially in Fort Wayne.

I was invited to testify in front of the State Legislature about Eminent Domain abuse in FORT WAYNE before they voted on HB1001!

What is ironic is that Fort Wayne is trying to draw private investors to Fort Wayne and at the same time they are seizing private property from citizens and business owners. Fort Wayne is sending a very mixed message.

There are three VERY RECENT cases of Eminent Domain abuse in The Summit City:

1. Belmont Beverages. Heck, the City spent 2.2 million dollars and now they DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY. This confirms that Eminent Domain is not a last resort as The City of Fort Wayne claims. It also proves that our Mayor and City Council are not pro small business nor are they fiscal conservartives.

2. The ongoing attempted theft of Aqua Indiana North by The City of Fort Wayne. Who can support a City taking a private business with the ABSURD claim that The City of Fort Wayne can run the business better...

3. The recent theft of property from Diane Kruse so that the City of Fort Wayne could help a developer run water and sewer lines to two new neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods will now have waivers that remove their ability to fight annexation in exchange for this "favor."

The City did not pay Kruse ANY money and the Judge dismissed the case on a technicality. Kruse did NOT file a written remonstrance; she did it verbally at several meetings and to several officials. In Fort Wayne, that does not count...

Fort Wayne officials should be embarassed!

Voters should remove ALL INCUMBENTS from office...

Mike Sylvester

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