http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/propertyrights/ en-us Tue, 2 Dec 2008 02:52:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2141208/posts Disability regulations are likely to get “tougher” in Gettysburg, according to town administrators, to help the borough government avoid court time as it battles American with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaints. The municipality is currently mired in 26 disabled rights suits filed with the state’s Human Relations Commission in Harrisburg.(snip) Property owners in Gettysburg, according to town officials, are responsible for sidewalks. Some driveway and sidewalk ADA upgrades, Lawver has predicted, could cost as little as $2,500 and as much as $10,000. (snip) President George H.W. Bush signed the American with Disabilities Act in 1990, making accessibility for disabled persons a... The Gettysburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2141208/posts#comment Tue, 2 Dec 2008 02:52:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2141084/posts Council members caved in to demands from an angry crowd and delayed approving a neatness ordinance until officials explain every word of the 26-page document to Kenneth City residents. In what was estimated to be the largest crowd to ever attend a Kenneth City Council meeting, an outraged group of residents railed at the proposal that would regulate the upkeep of both the exterior and interior of all property in the town. The proposal basically sets standards for upkeep and appearance and gives town officials the right to enter homes. If the owner refuses to allow the official to enter,... St. Petersburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2141084/posts#comment Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:21:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140852/posts Bismarck, N.D. (AP) -- Armed with a tractor or a backhoe, Alvin Peterson moves dirt to drain prairie potholes on his land, saying he's putting the land back to the way God intended. The 78-year-old retired farmer from Lawton, in northeastern North Dakota, has been in hot water with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over wetlands for more than 40 years. The agency had an easement contract with his father for the potholes to house and feed wildlife. Federal authorities, after dealing for decades with Peterson's pothole-emptying antics, began cracking down on him. Last month — and for the... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140852/posts#comment Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:47:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140786/posts Alert: Immediate Action Required! Friday, November 28, 2008 Tuesday night the Goochland Board of Supervisors will gather and cast a vote on new language to be included in the Comprehensive Plan. If approved, the consequences of these changes on property owners will be paralyzing. Property values and surrounding counties will be compromised. Marketability of real estate will be further diminished and areas of Goochland County will be neglected for important infrastructure investment. Once again, government is trying to tell citizens what they can do with their land. Help send a message to these politicians that the best comprehensive plan is... Click here to send an email to supervisors http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140786/posts#comment Mon, 1 Dec 2008 14:53:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2140079/posts The Nativity Project Proponents of public displays of nativity scenes are taking a pro-active approach for the 2008 holiday season. Last Thursday, organizers of the Nativity Project placed a display on the sidewalk outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Their point: That itÂ’s completely legal for private citizens to place religious displays on public sites. Rev. Rob Schenck is the president of the National Clergy Council, which is a co-sponsor of the Nativity Project. “This is not only okay, it is to be encouraged,” Schenck said, CBNNews.com reported. “In fact the more we exercise this right the stronger... Nationa Catholic Register http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2140079/posts#comment Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:39:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140050/posts Hours before the sun came up on a cool October morning in 2006, people living near the Dakota Stables on the Upper West Side were suddenly awakened by the sound of a jackhammer. Soon word spread that a demolition crew was hacking away at the brick cornices of the stables, an 1894 Romanesque Revival building, on Amsterdam Avenue at 77th Street, that once housed horses and carriages but had long served as a parking garage. In just four days the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was to hold a public hearing on pleas dating back 20 years to designate... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140050/posts#comment Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:13:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138541/posts Local Government's Permit Policies Cost Taxpayers It is seldom that we find a community so devastated by a lawsuit that it faces bankruptcy. It is even more unusual to see the exposure potentially repeat itself in a similarly explosive lawsuit. Unfortunately, this seems to be me case in San Mateo County. In January, I published a Viewpoint article about the case of Joyce Yamagiwa, Trustee vs. City of Half Moon Bay. The City of Half Moon Bay had prohibited development on a 24-acre parcel because the parcel was determined to constitute wetlands. The California Coastal Act prohibits residential development on... The Daily Recorder, Sacramento http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138541/posts#comment Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:55:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138130/posts Canals and forests, going, going….goneHaving nationalised the banks, Britain’s Labor government looks set to sell off the country’s forests and waterways to private buyers, in an attempt to balance the books ahead of the next election. The Forestry Commission which manages the country’s forest stock and British Waterways,the body that manages Britain’s rivers and canals, both control huge swathes of land that would be ideal for off-grid living. In the event they were sold, these possibilities may disappear, although they may also move up the agenda as the new owners attempt to maximise profitablity. British Waterways currently allows live-in vessels... Off-Grid Newsletter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138130/posts#comment Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:12:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137171/posts After a bitter five-year legal fight, the city of Long Branch has suggested it will abandon its plan to seize more than a dozen modest homes to make way for an ambitious oceanfront development project. Mayor Adam Schneider, who has long contended the small neighborhood meets the "blighted" designation necessary for the use of eminent domain, said today he now wants to settle with the homeowners rather than fight them in court for several more years. "The goal is to not use eminent domain," Schneider said. "I want this case settled. It's not going to settle if we use eminent... star ledger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137171/posts#comment Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:51:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137009/posts An elaborate modeling of housing prices and traffic congestion in cities across the US concludes that financing roads with comprehensive congestion priced tolls rather than taxes rather would provide major benefits in reducing housing prices and sub-optimal densities - 'sprawl' - as well as reducing the familiar delays and uncertain travel times. Moving to tolls or other direct road use charges will significantly improve overall welfare, economic efficiency and standards of living, the study says. Authors are Ashley Langer University of California Berkeley and Clifford Winston, Brookings Institution. The study is reported in Brookings-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs 2008. ...... Toll Road News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2137009/posts#comment Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:33:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2136583/posts The Real Story Behind Thanksgiving Did you know that the first [Plymouth Colony Pilgrim's] Thanksgiving was a celebration of the triumph of private property and individual initiative?William Bradford was the governor of the original Pilgrim colony, founded at Plymouth in 1621. The colony was first organized on a communal basis, as their financiers required. Land was owned in common. The Pilgrims farmed communally, too, following the "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" precept.The results were disastrous. Communism didn't work any better 400 years ago than it does today. By 1623, the colony had... Libertator Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2136583/posts#comment Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:49:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2136340/posts Obama must act boldly to rescue the American people.. [...] Creation of a new Home Owner's Loan Corporation (HOLC), the New Deal era agency that bought mortgages from homeowners at risk of defaulting and offered them more affordable terms. Include a law with a sunset clause allowing below median-value homeowners facing foreclosure the right to rent-to-own their homes at fair-market value rates. [...] Christian Science Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2136340/posts#comment Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:31:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2135698/posts <p>Every January, descendants of Confederate soldiers gather in Wyman Park to...lay wreaths at the monument to Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, legendary generals of the Confederate States of America. And afterward, for 20 years now, everyone has gone across the street to the Johns Hopkins University for coffee and refreshments...Hopkins has informed the Maryland divisions of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans that it will not rent space to them.</p> The Baltimore Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2135698/posts#comment Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:19:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135541/posts DENVER — A lawyer who represents the National Rifle Association represented Oklahoma's governor and attorney general Wednesday in support of a controversial state gun-rights law. The law requires employers to allow workers to have guns in locked vehicles where they work. It was struck down 13 months ago by U.S. District Judge Terence Kern in Tulsa. In arguments Wednesday at the federal appeals court in Denver, lawyer Charles Cooper argued on behalf of Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson that Kern was wrong. Cooper said his Washington, D.C., law firm earlier this year also supported the state law... Tulsa World http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135541/posts#comment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:54:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134153/posts Kirlins say they will only have to cede 15 percent of south Boulder lot. Two Boulder neighbors have settled an adverse-possession case that made national headlines last year and prompted changes to the state's law, according to a joint statement released Tuesday. Don and Susie Kirlin, who originally lost 34 percent of one of their vacant south Boulder lots to their neighbors Richard McLean and Edith Stevens, said they had settled a lawsuit and will only cede 15 percent of the lot. "This settlement allows the parties to put this longstanding and difficult dispute behind them," the couples wrote in... Daily Camera http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134153/posts#comment Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:16:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133720/posts It is simply impossible to understand the U.S. Constitution without first possessing a thorough understanding of property rights. If you traveled back in time to enter James Madison’s mind as he wrote and debated on such weighty issues as free speech, the rights of self defense, and the freedom of the press and freedom of conscience, but came away lacking knowledge of his and the Framers’ views on property, you still would be woefully ignorant of our Constitution, and even our history, for it was a whole series of property disputes which gave rise to both the American Revolution and... Freedom Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133720/posts#comment Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:32:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133692/posts Homeowners could be forced to sell part of their land so travellers and gypsies can have permanent sites Homeowners are facing the prospect of being forced to sell their own land to make space for gypsy campsites under orders from the government. ... the Government is launching what has been described as a 'land grab', which could see fields and even private gardens converted into pitches for mobile homes. One local authority is now warning its residents that their land could be brought under compulsory purchase if they refuse to sell up to make way for hundred of travellers setting... Daily Mail.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133692/posts#comment Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:42:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2132904/posts ...Likewise, the policy of public ownership of railroads and certain electric utilities met with unmistakable defeat. The people declared that they wanted their rights to have not a political but a judicial determination, and their independence and freedom continued and supported by having the ownership and control of their property, not in the Government, but in their own hands. As they always do when they have a fair chance, the people demonstrated that they are sound and are determined to have a sound government. 13 When we turn from what was rejected to inquire what was accepted, the policy that... Bio http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2132904/posts#comment Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:21:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2132724/posts The U.S. Forest Service is moving ahead on a proposal to determine whether parts of the Colorado River and Deep Creek are suitable candidates for inclusion in the national Wild and Scenic River System. The Colorado River Water Conservation District, however, is looking at ways to fend off such a designation. “We’re working on coming up with something that protects the values that make them eligible for wild and scenic designation without imposition of all the federal controls,” said Chris Treese of the river district. The river district is hoping to preserve flexibility and greater local control on the management... The Daily Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2132724/posts#comment Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:26:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2131136/posts A Littlestown resident is once again causing a stir in the community with a yard sign. Several days before last week's election, Kenneth Frock, of 325 W. King St., posted a 12-foot sign in his yard that read, "I believe in gun control. I have a sharp eye and a steady trigger finger. All muslems (sic) 'burn in hell.'" Littlestown Police Chief Donald Baker said there have been a number o f complaints since the sign was posted, but no action could be taken. Baker said he spoke with the Adams County District Attorney's office and the Pennsylvania State Police,... Hanover Evening-Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2131136/posts#comment Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:32:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130506/posts A national private property rights groups is urging its members to “deluge” Republican Sen. Mike Crapo’s office with calls and e-mails urging him to back off of the Senate bill that would protect wilderness and public land ranchers in Owyhee County. But Fred Grant, president of another national private property group and one of the leaders of the collaborative group that negotiated Crapo’s bill says the claims of the American Land Rights Association that Crapo has sold out private property rights “is not right or truthful.” The American Land Rights Association sent out an alert Monday urging its members to... Idaho Statesman http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130506/posts#comment Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:59:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2130023/posts Economist Tom Sowell once aptly wrote that “there are no solutions; there are only tradeoffs.” This can be no better seen than in the recent enactment of California Senate Bill 375 which will unknowingly trade precious groundwater resources for “Smart Growth” anti-urban sprawl policies. Under this legislation water will no longer be gold in California ; ethereal concepts about reducing “global warming” and producing “green power” will be California ’s new fools gold. It is little wonder that California is experiencing a “perfect drought” with the adoption of such policies. SB 375 is a piece of legislation which requires regional... Pasadena Sub Rosa http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2130023/posts#comment Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:14:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2129025/posts ...So YOU thought KELO was abusive...??? KLEPTOCRACY 201 - Today's Lesson Today, class, we will learn how to exercise 'eminent domain' without that pesky need to pay the owner ANYTHING for the property... ...and using this new method, you can not only strong-arm the property away from its rightful owner, but you STILL get to keep shaking down the "property owner" for all those great  PROPERTY TAXES on the parcel, AS WELL! ...WHAT could be BETTER than THAT???!!! ...It's a Kleptocrat's DREAM!!! Santa Cruz Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2129025/posts#comment Sun, 9 Nov 2008 23:30:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127094/posts The plan is part of an economic stimulus package the governor expects to put before lawmakers to spur loan workouts. Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday proposed a 90-day freeze in pending home foreclosures to give California's financially pinched homeowners more time to get new or more affordable loans. The governor unveiled a foreclosure relief and long-term mortgage reform initiative as part of an economic stimulus package that he plans to put before lawmakers in a special session of the Legislature scheduled to begin today. "The single most powerful action our state can take to shore up... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127094/posts#comment Thu, 6 Nov 2008 17:19:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2126315/posts LAS VEGAS -- A record number of Nevada voters approved one of the most controversial ballot questions was approved Tuesday. Question No. 2. dealt with the restriction of eminent domain. Under the new law, state and city governments can only take possession of private land for real public use, such as roads and schools -- not casinos. If the government did gain control of someone's property, then the person losing his or her property must get the highest price that property would bring on the open market, the proposal said. It would also allow landowners to go to court to... Fox 5 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2126315/posts#comment Wed, 5 Nov 2008 21:04:56 GMT