The community of Chula Vista, California has taken a positive step in its battle against potential eminent domain abuses by getting the local council to put a restrictive eminent domain ordinance up for a public vote. The council and mayor, Steve Padilla, initially were against the vote but recognized that it is a hot button topic and relented.

Which is very good for them. The government must always remember that property is the individuals and these rights must be protected as much as possible. When this single point is recognized, then 90 percent of the problems with eminent domain are dealt with. It looks like Mayor Padilla and the Chula Vista council heard this loud and clear.

“It is not our decision to pass judgment on the merits of a proposal,” Padilla said last night. “I hear very clearly that the community was concerned about this issue. They ought to have a right to vote on it.”
Friday, Padilla had announced that he planned to bring the issue to the council last night. Councilmen John McCann and Steve Castaneda had suggested doing the same thing at a council meeting earlier last week.
The measure would limit the city’s eminent domain authority by requiring the city to use its powers of condemnation only for a public use, such as building a school. It also would require the city to keep eminent domain properties it acquires for at least 10 years before selling them.

via SignOnSanDiego.com.

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