The Atlantic Yards Nets Arena development in Brooklyn advanced as New York State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, ruled in favor of the eminent domain condemnation of property by the state’s Empire State Development Corporation on behalf of developer ForestCityRatner. The developer is owned by Bruce Ratner, a former NYC government official. http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2998&Itemid=165
The Court used a very sweeping definition of blight to include virtually anything. "Economic underdevelopment and stagnation" are highly ambiguous.
I cannot say that I am suprised by this unwelcome development favoring corporate welfare and eminent domain. New York’s eminent domain statute is virtually capital punishment for property owners. What is needed is a libertarian revolution to elect Libertarians to public office, including the courts, the legislature, the governor and the city government. We Libertarians reject the Atlantic Yards and similar schemes as legalized theft. Next year, the governor and other statewide offices will be up for election as will the entire state legislature. New Yorkers can make a stand against eminent domain and corporate welfare. -30-
About the author: Richard Cooper is an international trade executive with a manufacturing firm on Long Island, New York, USA. He is active in the Libertarian Party www.lp.org on eminent domain and other issues. He was chair of the Libertarian Party of New York http://ny.lp.org
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