Real Estate & Property Law

Eminent Domain Reform Fails Again in New Jersey

By Alan Ackerman

It is interesting to note that the States which suffer from the most patronation kick back indictments, ends up being the State which cites eminent domain reform. Is there a correlation between the "goodie hand out of eminent domain acquired property and the political patronage system? New Jersey has less than the best of reputations. It is surprising that its public officials do not make a true effort or at least offer a picture of integrity. This is not to say that blighted areas should not be acquired by the eminent domain process, but rather that reform is so negative and yet so far away in New Jersey, one can only speculate to think that reform will ever come to the State.

Courier-Post

New Jersey continues to lag in modernizing its eminent domain laws, with dozens of other states having changed their rules in the five years since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the government's right to take land for private redevelopment.

Changes proposed here would preserve the taking of land for the redevelopment of blighted areas. But eminent domain's legion of critics insist there must be clear protections against the procedure being too broadly authorized.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on October 21, 2010 (boomark / email).