Well how about that? The Inquirer is actually covering eminent domain today...'bout damn time (they don't cover it enough):
TRENTON - After a four-month review of how the most densely populated state allows the seizure of land for private redevelopment, key Democratic lawmakers are working on legislation that would tighten the criteria for exercising eminent domain and require more public notification.
Builders and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities cheered the proposal, while property owners, Republicans, and the state's public advocate said it did not go far enough to curb eminent-domain abuse.
"The real question is: What will this do to stop the abuse taking place now? And the answer is: Nothing," said Bill Potter, a Princeton lawyer who heads the Coalition Against Eminent Domain Abuse.
The state's public advocate, Ronald Chen, released a report last month that said New Jersey made eminent domain far too easy to use. Yesterday, he expressed disappointment that the legislation did not include provisions for more affordable housing or improved ethics.
"When redevelopment occurs, there is a tremendous amount of money at stake, the government assumes awesome powers, and pay-to-play reform is essential to eliminate even the appearance of impropriety," Chen said in a statement.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D., Gloucester), who headed the review and is the bill's sponsor, ruled out including ethics language, such as banning campaign contributions from developers. Burzichelli said that was better dealt with by separate, overarching pay-to-play legislation.
...Even before the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision that allowed the seizure of land for private redevelopment, the issue had been controversial in New Jersey, with high-profile lawsuits in Camden, Lawnside, and Long Branch, among other places.
...It would eliminate the power municipalities have to condemn land by simply proving it is underused. Critics have said that could even apply to Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion.
Under the legislation, towns would have to prove specific harmful conditions, such as deterioration in the property that is "detrimental to the safety, health or welfare of the community." They also would have to conduct more studies to prove the necessity of invoking eminent domain.
...Anti-eminent domain activists, many of whom packed the hearing room yesterday, said they were disturbed that the development interests were so pleased.
"I thought the developers did a good job of writing it," said Thom Ammirato, who does public relations work for property owners fighting eminent domain.
Olga Pomar, a South Jersey Legal Services lawyer who has fought Camden's potential use of eminent domain in the Cramer Hill neighborhood, said the bill would still allow towns to target low-income or minority areas and to force those residents to move out of their neighborhoods.
Richard Gober, who battled eminent domain in his Ventnor neighborhood, said: "It's a start, but we need some teeth. ... I think this is political cover."
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