[infowarrior]

But when invoked on behalf of a private business...

There's the rub. Eminent domain was created for "the public good". Costco isn't the public, but a private business. No cause for eminent domain, the council is breaking the law, and know it...

the infowarrior

[Mike-o-Matic]

Quite frankly, this makes me wanna puke. Stupid local dictators.

[jayree]

Ok, I've read about this and there is a truly fantastic organization out there to offer help to this Church. It’s the Institute for Justice and this is the type of case that they take on regularly. I would suggest that someone from that church contact the Institute for Justice to see if they’ll take on this issue. The IJ is basically the Libertarian version of the ACLU. (I shudder to even compare them to the ACLU, but you get my point). IJ = good; ACLU = evil. Here’s the IJ’s website for anyone one interested in viewing what good work they do. Institute For Justice Good luck to these folks in Orange County. (I’m not ready to tear up my Costco Card yet though)

[Revolting cat!]

Coincidentally, isn't COSTCO owned by a card carrying Communist lawyer (I know it was founded by one)?

[Tactical Thunder]

Been a member scenic 1982 if they do this I will go to Sam's Club instead and I buy there for myself and our company of 125 employees.

[Koblenz]

Cypress's city fathers aren't bigots; they simply insist that Cottonwood's 17.9 acres are too valuable as potential tax revenue to be allowed to remain in the hands of a tax-exempt church. But the whole point of property rights is that bureaucrats don't get to pick and choose who owns what. Ditto for businesses such as Costco, which should buy their land in the open market instead of relying on local governments to seize a juicy location at below-market prices.

Fine, but as long as we want the open market to exist, we should have property taxes administered fairly, which means that churches should also pay property taxes. Because every other business has to in effect subsidize churches as churches don't pay property taxes.

[South40]

As a former city council member, I do not agree with the Cypress City Council’s decision. I do, however, understand its motives---and it has nothing to do with greed. It has everything to do with handling the daunting task of balancing the city’s budget.

As populations explode (more so in California with the run amok immigrant and/or Latino populations) balancing a city’s budget becomes an increasingly more difficult task. New and/or growing communities require new and/or expanded infrastructures. For every new community the need arises for new roads, shopping, Police and Fire protection, and the nominal maintenance that comes with them.

The fact that churches do not pay taxes can and most often does affect a council’s decision as to a church’s location(s).
Prime location property has the potential for greater tax revenues.

As I have already stated, I do not agree with this council’s decision. But I do understand its motives. And greed isn’t one of them.

One would think that the bad publicity surrounding this issue would cause Costco to abandon its proposal to purchase the property. If it doesn’t, therein lies the greed.

[Lanman]

Here is an interesting story about Costco for today

Costco Profits Up, Tops Wall Street View

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale Corp. (NasdaqNM:COST - News) said on Thursday net income rose 24 percent in its last quarter, as consumers seeking value in the sluggish U.S. economy bought goods in bulk at the No. 1 U.S. warehouse chain. . .

[BibChr]

Hugh Hewitt is absolutely smoking foaming howling DEATH on this issue right now. Yesterday he got one of those hapless council members on his show, and gave him holy heck.

Dan

[VOA]

But the whole point of property rights is that bureaucrats don't get to pick
and choose who owns what.

To All:
This topic has provided two hot evenings of discussion on The Hugh Hewitt Show
(870AM in the Los Angeles Area; other stations listed at www.hughhewitt.com; over the
internet at www.newstalk870.com; live broadcast 3-7PM Pac Time)

Hewitt is a prof. of Constitutional Law at Chapman University of Law; he and another
lawyer (from The Beckett Fund?) have had in depth discussion of this event.
One of the Cypress City Council called in last night and Hewitt let the guy have it!

I'm no lawyer...but I won't be suprised if this one ends up at the US Supreme Court some day.

[Rodney King]

Personally, I think that Church's should pay property taxes just like everybody else. And I am a regular church-goer.

[moyden]

Socialist thugs.

[let freedom sing]

Boy, this one's a STINKER!!!-- and the worst excuse for the blatant misuse of emminent domain.

[d14truth]

The Wall Street Journal(good pick)--

City of Cypress willing to 'pony up' ~$14.5 million in the hopes of attracting Costco(not a done deal) when the church will attract people which will cause Costco to purchase a different parcel at a better price.

The City Council of Cypress has their 'collective' head where the sun don't shine; but, then, they can never pass on the opportunity to spend taxpayers' money. Watch the 'deal' Costco pulls once the 'city' has the property. They will probably want a 10-year property tax exemption just for coming into Cypress. Remember, these are the same type of geniuses that came up with California's energy deregulation plan that would somehow outwit the energy experts. Yeah, right!!!

[Nick Danger]

Costco should have to buy six churches, or none.

[spokanite]

Hmmm, I could see the environmentalist using this tactic to their advantage as well. Let's say there are some homesteads in isolated areas in the mountian regions of our country and they want all property owners out of a certain area in order to make the land a "National Park". Could this method be used to add more land into the government's hands and less for individual landowners?

I'm not liking the looks of this...

[Rebelbase]

History of the case, copies of the lawsuits, etc.... Cottonwood.org

[AppyPappy]

Non-religious use of land is not tax-exempt. They should be paying taxes on the land.