The American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance (AHGA), a national nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization representing homeowners, is leading a petition drive to pass legislation that will draw a bright line for the appropriate use of eminent domain. On June 23, 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court decided, by a 5 to 4 vote, that state and local governments could use eminent domain procedures to acquire homes for private development. Public opinion polls on the subject since that decision indicate overwhelming opposition to the use of eminent domain for private projects.

The petition calls on President Bush and U.S. Senators to support legislation that would deny federal funds to any city or state project that used eminent domain to force people to sell their property to make way for a profit-making project such as a hotel or mall. Traditional use of eminent domain procedures for worthy public projects such as building schools and roads would not be affected. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed similar legislation.

AHGA urges homeowners and planners to support this legislation. There is a big difference between government projects that benefit the entire community (such as public schools, parks, public buildings, and roads) and private developments such as a mall or hotel. The latter often benefit only part of the population and often don't achieve their touted economic and sociological benefits. Private developers can and do continue to purchase homes from willing homeowners in arms-length transactions. However the overwhelming public opposition to the Supreme Court decision is ample demonstration that American's value homeowners property rights over the rights of developers to acquire homes that homeowners don't want to sell them directly.

To sign the petition, go to http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/StopPrivateTakings/. To learn more about the Alliance and its activities go to www.AmericanHomeowners.org.

Related Link: http://www.americanhomeowners.org/AHF2005/Home%20Base/Aug05HB.htm

For more information contact:

Bruce Hahn
American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance
6776 Little Falls Road
Arlington
Virginia 22213
USA

Phone: 703-536-7776
Fax: 703-536-7079
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.americanhomeowners.org