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 With fanfare and congratulations all-around,
Gov. Matt Blunt signed into law Thursday a measure that
our legislators have promised will protect Missouri
residents against the powerful interests who want to
take their land for development.
In fact, the new
law does no such thing. What it fails to do is to is
provide meaningful security for Missourians who treasure
their homes and livelihoods. While the bill's supporters
declare victory and move on to other issues, they leave
residents vulnerable to the machinations of deal-makers
and politicians in pursuit of the almighty
buck.
This is the view that Missourians for Smart
Growth has taken as we watch the battle over eminent
domain unfold in counties and municipalities across
eastern Missouri. Time after time, we have seen
long-time property owners who have been forced to give
up their land not for the public good, but in the
interests of developers who want to build one more
unneeded shopping center, strip mall or office park.
These developers, of course, have the ear of politicians
because they are a great source of campaign
contributions.
The measure which passed with
substantial majorities in each chamber contains a huge
loophole designed to please developers and other big
business interests, such as utilities and cable
television providers. The major flaw: The bill requires
that "if the condemning authority finds a preponderance
of the area is blighted, it may proceed with the
condemnation of any parcel in the area." Unfortunately,
the bill does not redefine the word "blight" which in
the past has even been used to give developers the right
to condemn a cornfield.
While many of us would
consider "blight" to apply to areas where buildings have
been condemned and poverty has persisted for decades, it
has been used in middle class areas throughout our
region to drive homeowners and small business people
from their properties. In many cases, these residents
have spent decades – sometimes generations – in their
homes and businesses. In some notable cases, those new
developments have gone belly-up and residents left
without compensation.
Residents in Missouri's
second senatorial district, which covers western St.
Charles County and Lincoln County, will want to know
that their legislator Scott T. Rupp voted for passage of
this measure and perhaps now believes he can put the
issue behind him.
But it won't go away. Rupp is
facing opposition in the Republican primary from St.
Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil, who has a
consistent record of supporting the interests of
property owners against the heavy-handed tactics of
developers and their political cronies. Unlike the vague
wording in HB 1944, Brazil's platform on the issue is
clear: "Eminent domain should not be used for private
enterprise. PERIOD."
For that reason and a host
of others, Missourians for Smart Growth is backing
Brazil's candidacy. Missourians for Smart Growth
supports responsible growth where problems created by
development are addressed with intelligence and careful
planning. We seek to support political leadership that
supports growth while successfully protecting the rights
of citizens.
You can learn more about our
organization at www.missouriansforsmartgrowth.com
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