California Supreme Court Restores Public Agencies’ Ability to Conduct Surveys Without First Filing Eminent Domain
On Thursday of last week, the California Supreme Court in the case Property Reserve, Inc. v. Superior Court of San Joaquin County ruled that government officials don’t need to go through a formal eminent domain process before they can survey private property. This decision reverses the ruling made by the Court of Appeal, which concluded… Read more »
New November Ballot Initiative Could Stop High Speed Rail Project Dead in Its Tracks
The No Blank Check Initiative, which is set for the November, 2016 ballot, would give voters the right to decide whether to fund — with revenue bonds — projects that cost more than $2 billion. If passed, this would put the funding for the high-speed rail project up for another vote. Revenue bonds are… Read more »
Bullet Train Hurt: Cap-and-Trade Funding Falls Short of Expectations
California’s proposed high-speed rail project hit another hurdle as the latest auction in California’s cap-and-trade market for greenhouse gasses generated revenues sharply below expectations. Buyers purchased just 2% of the carbon credits whose sales are meant to supply funding to the high-speed rail project, according to the LA Times. The rail authority expected about $150… Read more »
Public Voices Concerns Over California High-Speed Rail
On Tuesday, April 12, the public weighed in on the new California High-Speed Rail proposal that had several updated routes from Bakersfield to Palmdale, Palmdale to Burbank, Burbank to Los Angeles, and Los Angeles to Anaheim. With several mountain ranges, fault lines, natural areas and densely populated regions cutting through the proposed routes, the public… Read more »
Marin County Rancher Awarded $3.2 Million in Eminent Domain Case
A Marin County Rancher has been awarded $3.2 million for property that was seized by the State of California for a Highway 101 expansion in northern Novato. Lorraine Silveira, a 94 year-old rancher, sought $6 million for her land that was seized by the California Department of Transportation using eminent domain. During the proceedings, the… Read more »
Donald Trump Might Take Your Land?
The road to the 2016 presidential election has been full of twists with outside candidates like Ben Carson and Donald Trump leading the polls for the Republican Party. As of the time of this posting, Trump is the Republican Party’s frontrunner, and this success is making him a public target. Opponents of Trump are… Read more »
California Project News: More Property Being Targeted for Condemnation for High Speed Rail Project
Earlier this month, the State Publics Works Board approved and adopted Resolutions of Necessity (the agency’s decision to take property by eminent domain) for 12 more properties in the San Joaquin Valley required by the California High-Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”). Parcels impacted are in Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties. The parcels total 53 acres,… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Initial Segment of High Speed Rail Reduced by 8 Miles
A settlement agreement between the City of Bakersfield and California High Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”) has resulted in an eight mile reduction of the initial 130-mile segment of the high speed rail in part of the Central Valley. Last December, CHSRA and the City of Bakersfield settled a lawsuit brought by Bakersfield city officials concerning… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA’s Proposed Palmdale to Burbank Routes Get Opposition from Southern California Cities and Residents
Opposition to the California High Speed Rail project is growing as Southern Californians’ concerns appear to be increasing over the proposed routes for the $68 billion bullet train’s Palmdale to Burbank segment. Approximately 300 city officials and residents from various Southern California cities attended California High Speed Rail Authority’s (“CHSRA”) Board meeting on Tuesday in… Read more »
Rebirth of Redevelopment in California: Impairing Private Property Rights or Revitalization?
In a 63-13 vote, Assembly Bill 2, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, passed in the California State Assembly last week. The bill allows for so-called “Community Revitalization Investment Authorities” – essentially redevelopment agencies with a different title – to acquire private property through eminent domain and make it available to big developers with the… Read more »