[imc-st.louis] [Fwd: MO-CPR press release: Arnold, MO Voters Say No to Eminent Domain Abuse]

[ben]

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     To: eminentdomainabusestl at yahoogroups.com
     From: ron at mofirst.org
     Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:03:22 -0500
     Subject: [eminentdomainabusestl] MO-CPR press release: Arnold, MO
     Voters Say No to Eminent Domain Abuse

     *Arnold, MO Voters Say No to Eminent Domain Abuse*

     *Proposed Constitutional Amendments Will Protect Citizens Statewide*

     Press Release: April 11, 2008
     *St. Louis, Mo.* — This week, voters in Arnold, Mo., replaced
     incumbent politicians with candidates who share one characteristic:
     a pledge to end eminent domain for private use. The City held its
     election on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, weeks after the Supreme Court of
     Missouri ruled against dentist Homer Tourkakis, a longtime Arnold
     resident whose office city officials seek to condemn and hand over
     to a private developer.
     In Ward 2, anti-eminent domain abuse challenger Jerel Poor defeated
     incumbent John Brazeal by a margin of 67% to 33%. In Ward 1, Matthew
     Hay—who has publicly opposed private-to-private transfers of land
     through eminent domain— won with 78% of the vote.
     “The election results in Arnold and other jurisdictions around the
     state emphasize that Missourians are fed up with eminent domain
     abuse,” said Ron Calzone, chairman of Missouri Citizens for Property
     Rights. “It's important to understand, though, that most of these
     wins don't even give the pro-property rights forces a majority in
     those cities. What's more, gains made in one municipal election can
     be lost in the next. The people really need the constitutional
     protection our ballot initiative provides .”
     Days before the Arnold election, city officials circulated a media
     advisory on official letterhead criticizing Dr. Tourkakis for
     asserting his constitutional rights. The controversy arises out of
     the City’s efforts to take Dr. Tourkakis’ office so private
     developers can build big-box stores.
     “It’s clear voters understood how wrong it was for the City to use
     taxpayer money to denounce Homer Tourkakis for defending himself
     against the abuse of eminent domain,” said his attorney, Tim Sandefur.
     Meanwhile, citizens have collected the majority of the signatures
     necessary for two proposed constitutional amendments that would
     limit eminent domain to actual public uses.
     “The response to our petitions has been overwhelming – the people
     are hungry for real property rights protection.” Calzone added. “Our
     projections indicate that we will have the signatures we need by the
     May 4th deadline, but it's not going to be easy getting there – we
     still need all the help we can get.”
     *Contact:*
     Ron Calzone, chairman
     Missouri Citizens for Property Rights
     33867 Highway E
     Dixon, MO 65459
     (573) 759-3585
     ron at mo-cpr.org <mailto:ron at mo-cpr.org>
     www.mo-cpr.org <http://www.mo-cpr.org/>

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-- 
Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net
http://savetheinternet.org