State Proposition 98 on the ballot next Tuesday is a strike to substanstially limit the government's power of eminent domain in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo vs. New London ruling which essentially gave local government's carte blanche in the taking of private property.
As advocates for limited eminent domain power that's an attractive proposition for us. However, the water gets muddied with the language in the measure which would eventually end rent control in California.
It's a shame, really, that the two issues are joined at the hip in this ballot initiative. Rent control should be a separate issue.
Proposition 99, another measure on Tuesay's ballot, is also aimed at eminent domain, though it imposes much weaker restrictions.
Our recommendation is a No on Proposition 98 and a Yes on Proposition 99. That will at least take away the carte blanche power handed to the government by a shocking and shortsighted Supreme Court decision.
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