Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

In Oregon, Posthumous Court Victory for Measure 37 "Poster Child"

April 30, 2009, 8:06am

Leonard Gilroy

Dorothy English, the late Oregon widow whose fight against regulatory overreach helped prompt a statewide policy shift on private property rights, has finally been made whole in the courts.

Scottsdale Water Condemnation Proposal Leaves a Bad Taste

Exercising eminent domain to take over private water utility is fiscally irresponsible, violates private property rights

June 30, 2008

Leonard Gilroy

States Should Establish Ombudsmen To Protect Private Property Rights

Utah leads the way

April 17, 2008

Leonard Gilroy

Drew Carey: LA Officials Use Eminent Domain to Help Rich Get Richer

New Reason.tv video shows government stealing land to give to wealthy developers and demonstrates that Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle has a better approach to redevelopment

December 18, 2007

"You know the great thing about America is once you own property - you own it," says Drew Carey in a new Reason.tv video examining eminent domain abuse. "You can do anything you want with that property. You can build a house on it, a business. You can plant flowers, grow daisies. Whatever you want to do with it, it's your property. You own it. And the only way somebody can take your property is if they steal it. Am I right? That's why the government invented eminent domain."

 

Reason.tv Drew Carey Video Highlights Eminent Domain Abuse in San Diego

Boxing gym helping low-income kids doesn't produce enough tax revenue, so city in San Diego County tries to take property and give it to condo developer

November 15, 2007

Buoyed by the Supreme Court's dubious Kelo decision, governments are increasingly abusing eminent domain to take homes and small businesses so private developers can build malls, condos and office complexes.

In his latest Reason.tv video, Drew Carey takes an in-depth look at one such example of "eminent domain gone wild." A boxing gym that takes at-risk kids off the streets and helps turn their lives around might be great for the community, but it doesn't generate the tax revenue that luxury condos would. So National City's government teamed with private developers to plot the Community Youth Athletic Center's demise and replace it with high-rise condos. Reason.tv shows Ron Morrison, mayor of National City, saying the gym has tried to "sensationalize this as if the city is doing something bad to you."

American Voters Protect Their Property Rights

Eminent domain measures pass in nine states

November 15, 2006

Leonard Gilroy

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