What is Eminent Domain Abuse?

What is Eminent Domain Abuse?
    Eminent domain is the power of government to condemn private property and take
    title for public use . Traditionally public use meant to build roads, schools, or public
    buildings.

    "Eminent Domain Abuse" is when private property is taken for a private use.
    For many years, courts have read the public-use restraint broadly, enabling
    governments to take property from one owner, often small and powerless, and
    transfer it to another, often large and politically connected, all in the name of
    economic development, urban renewal, job creation or increasing the tax base. It is
    considered abuse any time property is taken for anything other than a true public use.

Take our BLIGHT test today. Click Here!

Why should I care?
    Your home or your business are at risk of being taken away from you by Eminent
    Domain right now.

Currently N.J. law does almost nothing to protect our property rights.

    The way the current Redevelopment Laws read any property can be taken if something
    else can produce more tax revenue in its place. This means your property can be taken
    so a politically connected developer can build condos, a new strip mall, a big retail
    chain store or other structure where your home or business once stood.

    The laws are so absurd that Public Advocate Ronald Chen said that his home, in an
    upscale suburban community, meets the criteria for "Blight".

Do you think it's not possible? Do you think it can't happen to you? Think again!
People are losing their property to politically connected developers everyday.

N.J. law does not protect your farm either. Currently your farm can be taken solely
to preserve open space. Can you say "Machiavelli"?

    "New Jersey is going to be the first state to reach build-out, so there will come a time
    when the only kind of development that gets done here is redevelopment,"
    Assemblyman John Burzichelli says.

    "New Jersey may be the first state in the nation to run out of available land and be
    completely built out. Our state also expects to grow in population by nearly a million
    people over the next 25 years. We must make the most efficient use of the land we
    have and making good use of the redevelopment process is critical to that effort" says
    State Senator Ron L. Rice.

These quotes should be a wake up call to anyone who believes that their property is
safe.

Take our BLIGHT test today. Click Here!

How can I help?
     Defeating the forces of greed and arrogance is never easy.

     The proponents of eminent domain have deep pockets and strong support from all
     levels of government.

    1. Write to your local legislator and tell him/her that you want reforms enacted to
         protect your property from unrightful seizures.

2. Write letters to your local papers and voice your opinion so others understand the
urgency of this issue.

3. Join our grassroots coalition to unify your voice with the thousands of others that
are fighting the abuse of Eminent Domain across the state. Click here to Join