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WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS
AND PICK UP YOUR BALLOT
SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS MAY HAVE YOU
SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD.
SPECIFICALLY ONE ON
EMMINENT DOMAIN.
WE ASKED 10 ON YOUR
TO TRANSLATE THE
LEGAL SPEAK FOR US ..
STEPHANIE
THIS IS A SAMPLE BALLOT
AND YOU CAN SEE THE
QUESTION IS PRETTY
LONG - ITS ASKS IF YOU
WANT TO AMMEND THE STATE
CONSTIUTION ON
EMINET DOMAIN. SO
DOMAIN?
BASICALLY IT MEANS THE
GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE YOUR
PROPERTY - WITHOUT YOUR
CONSENT - FOR PUBLIC
USE.
THAT IS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD
TO BE FOR THINGS LIKE
HIGHWAYS,
RAILROADS, OR SCHOOLS.
BUT IN 2005 THE SUPREME
TAKE YOUR LAND
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO ONE BUSINESS OWNER
COULD LOSE
HIS LAND SO THAT ANOTHER
ONE COULD COME IN AND
MAKE MORE MONEY
OR CREATE MORE JOBS. THE
AMMENDMENT WOULD MAKE
ILLEGAL.
HERE'S WHAT IT WOULD DO
-- IT WOULD MAKE THE
RIGHT TO PRIVATE
RIGHT.
IT SAYS THE TAKING OR
DAMAGING OF PRIVATE
PROPERTY MUST BE FOR A
STATED "PUBLIC USE." IT
COULD STILL TAKE LAND
CONSIDERED A
PUBLIC NUISANCE BUT NOT
IF THE "PRIMARY USE IS
FOR PRIVATE GAIN OR
THAT WOULD STOP SOMEONE
FROM
LABELING A PLACE A PUBLIC
NUISANCE JUST TO GET THE
LAND.
FINALLLY, AND THIS IS THE
PART THAT HAS SOME PEOPLE
CONCERNED: IT
ALSO SAYS THE THE
PROPERTY OWNER MUST BE
PAID NOT ONLY FOR THE
LAND,
BUT FOR LOST PROFITS,
LOST ACCESS AND DAMAGES.
MAKE IT A LOT MORE
EXPENSIVE TO BUILD
AND THAT WILL COST
TAXPAYERS.
FOR MORE ON EMINENT
DOMAIN, AND ALL THE
REFERENDUMS AND
CANDIATES ON THE BALLOT
GO TO WAVY DOT COM AND
CLICK ON ELECTIONS
UNDER THE NEWS TAB.
ALVETA.