Senate panel advances eminent domain reform-Trenton, NJ
June 19th, 2008
TRENTON, N.J. - A Senate panel has advanced long-awaited legislation meant to stop eminent domain abuses.
The bill, discussed for two years, aims to protect homeowners from developers seeking to take land for private redevelopment.
Sen. Ronald Rice, the sponsor, said the bill would redefine what property can be seized for redevelopment and require fair compensation if eminent domain is used.
The bill can now be considered by the full Senate. The Assembly hasn’t considered the bill, but it advanced eminent domain reforms in 2006.
Under eminent domain, governments have power to seize private property for public projects or to promote private economic redevelopment.
A 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave wide latitude to local governments wanting to seize homes to make way for a commercial use.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj-xgr–eminentdomain0619jun19,0,1670751.story
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Rice accuses Democrats of boycotting eminent domain-Trenton, NJ
TRENTON — A state Senate committee chairman accused two fellow Democrats of skipping a meeting Thursday to avoid voting on eminent domain reform.
Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, scheduled a vote on his eminent domain bill Thursday but canceled when the two other Democrats on the Senate Urban and Community Affairs Committee didn’t attend. Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, said he was stuck in traffic. Sen. Dana Redd, D-Camden, cited a family emergency.
“This legislation will continue to come up until we can determine what the real problem is with Democrats in terms of not appearing or in terms of the vote,” Rice said. Later, he said, “I’m suspecting that they’re boycotting it, and that has not been done since I’ve been here.”
Both lawmakers disputed that they were boycotting.
“I’m dismayed at the allegation. There was no boycott of the meeting,” Redd said. “Unfortunately, I had a family emergency that I had to tend to.”
Van Drew said he arrived at the Statehouse as the meeting cleared out. “They closed it down, just as I was walking in.”
Both said they wouldn’t have voted for Rice’s measure.
When canceling the morning meeting, Rice said Van Drew called to say he was running late with traffic but that Redd did not.
“I would like to think that Sen. Van Drew is being honest about the situation. I haven’t heard from Sen. Redd,” Rice said.
Redd told a reporter she had a staffer call Rice before the 10 a.m. hearing.
There’s a stalemate in the Legislature between Rice’s measure and one pushed by two South Jersey Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney and Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli, both D-Gloucester.
Each side seeks a fairer process when government attempts to take land for private redevelopment and greater compensation to those who ultimately lose it.
They remain divided on how to treat contaminated land.
Rice says property owners legitimately cleaning up their land shouldn’t lose it to government after the expensive remediation is done. The South Jersey Democrats say such land should not be exempt because it will block efforts to redevelop polluted and stagnant sites.
Rice said he has addressed their concerns and plans to call a vote on June 19. Van Drew, Redd and Sen. Philip E. Haines, R-Burlington, said they won’t consider a vote until the sponsors reach agreement. Sen. Chris Connors, R-Ocean, likely won’t vote for any bill because he favors a total ban on eminent domain for private redevelopment.
Gregory J. Volpe: gvolpe@gannett.com
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS0301/806130384/1007/NEWS03