By A.J. Hazarabedian
The City of Rosemead recently approved a strategic plan that aims to change the look and feel of the small town.
The plan is for the next two years, although city council members recognize all of the work cannot be accomplished in that time.
The article, “Rosemead defines itself as a small town in the big city,” from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, explains “the strategic plan aims to continue the city’s tradition, while making Rosemead more aesthetically pleasing, adding community events, improving security.”
Most interesting are the City’s comments regarding its claimed need to reinstate the City’s power of eminent domain. Mayor Maggie Clark tells the Tribune, “we are just reinstating it, it doesn’t mean we are ever going to use it.”
City officials reference the elimination of blight as the reason for reinstating the power of eminent domain and refer to it as a “negotiating tool.”
Commentary from A.J. Hazarabedian:
Using the threat of eminent domain as a “negotiating tool” is effective, but tantamount to using eminent domain. A property owner told to sell his property at a price favorable to the City or face eminent domain litigation often sees little difference between the threat and the filing of litigation. It is incongruous for the City to say that it intends to use the threat of emiennt domain as a “negotiating tool,” but at the same time say they may not use eminent domain at all.