Okay Jim,
I've been busy, as this is our busy season. But we are still out there working. I know there are lots of legal challenges in the flats with plenty of great attorneys. Mr. Phillips is one of the many that are working down there.
Federally, a bill that would have stopped funding for Eminent Domain was stopped at the US Senate.
http://www.castlecoalition.org/media/releases/12_11_06pr.html?actionID=286
We have watched many states in the last election successfully put up good solid laws in their state against eminent domain abuse.
The Eminent Domain Task force in Ohio offered some financial improvements to people facing eminent domain, but the definition they used for blight could blight anyone's home pretty much. So we are still at square one here in Ohio - and the state legislature hasn't put forward a bill.
While the Supreme Court in Ohio has ruled against Eminent Domain and in favor of the Gambles in Norwood, the Gambles et al, last I heard (earlier this week) had still not gotten the title back to their home and their home had been valdalized badly while Jeffrey Anderson held the title to it. They are hoping to get it fixed up and move back. Meanwhile all the property in Norwood that had been bulldozed by Mr. Anderson is back up for sale.
In the meantime, there is a huge eminent domain issue coming across Ohio. I'm just getting the details of that.
The good news is Mayor George has been very good about doing all of the development in Lakewood without the use of eminent domain. This allows me to get to be a "gadfly" and worry about someone else.
Julie and I last year formed the Buckeye Coalition for Eminent Domain Reform in the State of Ohio and already we have well over 100 members. To get onto the mailing list at send an e-mail to
BuckeyeCoalition@yahoo.com.
We plan to get our website up at the first of the year.
So thanks for asking Doug, and Jim, we can have windmills and no eminent domain at the same time.