About a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that local municipalities may seize private property for development purposes. As one could imagine, this decision caused outrage and confusion. Would municipalities take advantage?
In Manhasset, New York, the Village of North Hills has decided to see just how far this new definition of eminent domain will go.
In a move sure to tickle Hugo Chavez, the Village of North Hills has made it clear that owning property means jack in their jurisdiction, and has announced plans to take over Deepdale Golf Club, a 175-acre privately owned facility, and make it a public golf course, leaving Deepdale’s current members and owners in the cold.
Already two lawsuits have been filed to stop this move, including one by John Wilson, a North Hills resident.
“This proposed condemnation may be the most extreme abuse of eminent domain in the country,” Wilson told the Manhasset Press.
“North Hills is trying to seize a private golf course for the purpose of creating a private ‘Village only’ golf course. This has nothing to do with a master plan that promotes the public good or eliminating blight … Rather, it is a naked grab for private property in an apparent effort to satisfy the private desires of a few elected officials,” Wilson added.
Yesterday, 120 residents showed up to North Hills Village Hall to discuss the controversial takeover, but were shut down by North Hills Mayor Marvin Natiss, who let them know the issue would not be discussed until at least April 19.
While it’s difficult to work up too much sympathy for Deepdale, an extremely private course that counts Matt Lauer and other celebrities as members, it’s impossible to side with the Village of North Hills unless a full-on Bolivar Revolution in the Northeast is your cup of tea.
–WKW
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4 comments
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§ jaypee said on : 03/17/06 @ 12:02
WOW ! Quite a comparison. Its turning away people that might have agreed with you.
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§ Kiel Christianson®
said on : 03/17/06 @ 12:30
Although Chavez might be pleased, it seems to me that more pleased yet would be the late William H. Rehnquist, under whose Chief Justice-ship the precident for this move was established. Certain sitting US presidents might like to harp about "activist judges," but in reality, Rhenquist presided over the most activist Supreme Court in history, overturning more decisions and reversing more precidents than any before. His activist court opened the door for this "economic domain." Perhaps once the extremely rich individuals get squeezed by the powerful tentacles of the even more influential (corporations, power-hungry governments), even they will begin to doubt the so-called wisdom of an unbridled market economy. -
§ Tim McDonald® said on : 03/17/06 @ 15:39
I once had an argument with Hugo Chavez, when I was a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, and he was in Trinidad. It nearly came to blows. He's always referred to as the "strong arm, ex-paratrooper."
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§ Ron Mon® said on : 06/25/06 @ 11:22
On Grand Island, NY, near Buffalo, an Indian tribe attempted to reclaim land stolen centuries ago. If it had won, the state was prepared to offer a state park (with golf course) as payment. I for one was hoping that the Natives would win, in order to get a better golf course. Sadly, the natives lost, and the golf course still sucks. Does Darrell Kestner keep his job if the course goes public?
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