Let me suggest Juice readers check out Jon Fleischman’s latest Special Report as found on the www.flashreport.org In today’s edition you will find Jon’s interview with retired State Senator Jim Neilson. This new endeavor is supported by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Associaition (HJTA), the CA Farm Bureau Federation and being championed by the CA Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights.
The report opens as follows. Let me suggest that you go to the site to read all of the questions and responses.
FLASHREPORT
Publisher, The FlashReport Jon Fleischman
MAJOR EFFORT UNDERWAY TO BRING EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM MEASURE TO 2008 BALLOT
An exclusive interview with retired State Senator Jim Nielson February 20, 2007
[Publisher’s Note: For nearly a year, I have had the opportunity to work with the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights in their role as a leading advocate, in California, for curbing eminent domain abuse. For some time now, I have heard that they have been working to place a measure on the ballot next year that would hopefully pass, where Proposition 90 did not, and protect the property rights of Californians. I had an opportunity to conduct a pretty extensive interview with retired State Senator Jim Nielsen, who as Chairman of the Alliance, is playing a leading role in this ballot measure campaign….]
I was so pleased to read that Nielson and Coupal had removed the regulatory taking provision and, I thought, put forward a “pure” anti-Kelo measure. Silly me. I should have known with Coupal involved that there would be an initiative stowaway–this time an anti-rent control provision.
This is whats wrong with out intitiative process people hijak a popular issue and load it up with special interest fien print–apartment owners put $$ into HJTA and so now we get an anti-rent control measure dressed up as an anti-eminent domain abuse initiative. If Coupal wants to stop rent control, man up and present it to the voters on its own. Let those of us who want a clean anti-Kelo bill have one. If the legislature is smart they would put a clean measure on the ballot and Coupal’s back door manuver will fall on its face. Or be declared unconstitutional for violating the single issue provision for a ballot measure.
Full disclosure: I generally oppose rent control, thinking that in most cases the market is a better regulator. But there are exceptions that LOCAL entities are in a much better position then I am to determine its appropriateness, as long as legal guidelines are adhered to. It’s another example of Republicans talking about local control but then actually trashing local control when they don’t like the results. Democrats, in fairness, usually pay little heed to local control but that is gradually changing. Time for GOP to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
I agree with Bladerunner. It seems some other issues have been grafted on to this measure which don’t pass the smell test -e.g. rent control and pass backs to original owners. I think the voters will again reject something that’s not completely clean & clear.
Also, I don’t see this measure being supported by some examples of folks getting screwed.
Bladerunner.
I will forward your comments to the HJTA and request their feedback.
When I receive it I will post it for all to see and debate further.
Thanks Larry. I won’t hold my breath.
I’m hoping Correa can team up with folks from both parties to put a clean anti-Kelo measure on the ballot.