The perfectly legitimate concept of taking private property for the public good in a practice called eminent domain used to be used to take property for things like schools, highways, military bases, airports and other uses clearly for the greater good of the public.But, this perfectly sensible legal power has been twisted to the point where private business now uses eminent domain to take citizen's property. In Arlington, Texas, thousands were displaced, their homes and apartments and businesses taken so a professional football team could build a new stadium.
In Hurst, Texas, homes were taken by eminent domain so a private business, the Northeast Mall, could expand its parking lots.
In Fort Worth, eminent domain is being used to take property to build a little lake and a flood diversion channel in a project the public has not voted for, that being the Trinity River Vision Project.
Also in Fort Worth, eminent domain is being used by Chesapeake Energy to force a homeowner to allow Chesapeake Energy to install a high pressure, high volume, non-odorized natural gas pipeline beneath his home and the other homes on Carter Avenue.
Your thoughts????
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I think the way eminent domain is being abused is criminal and those who are allowing this need to do jail time.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Thanks for providing this vehicle to exercise our rights to free speech and free thinking. We're on board and hope our fellow citizens of the USA (not some fake @#$% "citizen of the shale") will "PIPE UP" --or forever hold your peace, whatever's left of it anyway with all these assaults on our fundamental liberties and rights by ruthless profiteers and self-centered politicians and bureaucrats (not all, mind you).
ReplyDeleteThe oil and gas pipeline companies have become so arrogant, they now think they can take true public land in Haltom City and Flower Mound. A private entity taking city land, at least we know who is in charge down in Austin.
ReplyDeleteThere's NO help from our government at all levels in Texas! Politicians and agencies are of no help to the ordinary citizens who live on the land. Also, the court system is rotten to the core and corrupted. I've lost all confidence in the whole mess.
ReplyDeleteIf I were you people stuck in Texas I would leave and return to America, where at least you know you're free and they can't take that away, unlike your land in Texas.
ReplyDeleteSo this really isn't a true "eminent domain abuse" case since it's a private corporation forcefully taking the private properties and NOT THE GOVERNMENT. Surely, Chesapeake being a world-class corporation made VERY generous financial compensations to these property owners. This one guy seems to be either greedy and simply concerned about his own bank account or just plain ornery, not caring about the "common good". Either way, the gloves should come off and teach this guy a lesson about patriotism and selflessness.
ReplyDeleteThat droll mockery of the last Anonymous is fairly amusing. I agree, that guy making the fuss is one selfish ornery cuss. The raw nerve of the guy, thinking about his kid's safety, rather than the public good that will be served by having a high pressure gas pipeline in his yard for kids to play with.
ReplyDeleteEminent Domain is equal to and means "state power" --as in the massive power of a government with all its resources (i.e. laws/codes, taxpayer dollars, lawyers, PR machine, etc.). The Jerry Jones-NE mall E.D. abuses by the respective city collaborators aside, WHY IS THIS AWESOME GOVERNMENT POWER GIVEN DIRECTLY TO PROFITEERING COMPANIES LIKE CHEAPSAPEAKE ANYWAY? Help me out here cuz I'm perplexed and p.o.'d.
ReplyDeleteWord on the street and Carter Avenue is TXDOT and Chesapeake have worked out a route to run the controversial Carter pipeline. Let's hope this eminent domain abuse nightmare is finally over!
ReplyDeleteRumors and political double-speak will not be adequate to ASSURE the PEOPLE (more important than pipeline$?)that this dishonest corporation and its political bedfellows will not renig or wiggle their way out of not jeopardizing the health and safety of children and their families. Why can't any of them simply say "Out of consideration for public opinion and respect for human safety, we have committed to doing everything within our powers to run this gathering pipeline along the public right of way near I-30"? I SUSPECT ANOTHER SCAM FROM THEIR THICK BOOK OF DIRTY PLAYS. SURE HOPE I'M WRONG.
ReplyDeleteTo answer commenter "Carter street resident"--BECAUSE THEY ARE SELF-CENTERED POLITICIANS AND HEART-LESS PROFITEERS.
ReplyDeleteCan you possibly tell me where yo obtained the photo on the Eminent Domain protest? We are interested in using it in a college textbook on Democracy.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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