AgdaPkt 2007-10-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7A Page 2 'Eminent Domain' Continued from Page 1... During the 2006 "No on Prop. 90" campaign, the League made a serious commitment to support meaningful eminent domain reform. This year, the League joined a broad coalition in supporting ACA 8, authored by Assembly Member Hector De La Torre, who worked tirelessly to pass this measure to provide broad eminent domain protections to California property owners. The League board of directors was deeply disappointed at the Legislature's inaction on the measure, but concluded it meant that the League would have to work with its Coalition partners to get the job done directly by going to the voters with a serious eminent domain reform measure. Coalition Moves Forward to Qualify Homeowners Protection Act Aware of the risk of legislative inaction, in May, the League board joined the League of California Homeowners and California League of Conservation Voters in co-sponsoring the Homeowners Protection Act, an initiative to amend the constitution to prohibit government from using eminent domain to take an owner-occupied home to transfer to another private person or business. It is an honest and understandable measure that recent polling confirms will be supported by the vast majority of voters. The coalition is now gathering the signatures needed to qualify it for the June 2008 ballot. To view the initiative, visit wW'ij,aq.ca.Qov/initiatives, click on "Active Measures," and search for "07-0018," Deceptive Competing Initiative to End Zoning Also Headed to Ballot Prop. 90 was defeated last year in part because its sponsors tried to deceive voters by hiding damaging provisions under the eminent domain reform banner. They are doing it again. "Son of Prop. 90" is now in circulation, disingenuously called the "California Property Owners and . Farmland Protection Act" (CPOFPA). Its proponents (funded largely by big apartment and mobile home park owners) want voters to think it is just about eminent domain reform, but that is a smokescreen. CPOFPA contains hidden provisions that would: . Prohibit or require compensation for local zoninQ and other land use decisions . Prohibit local rent control and affordable housing laws that protect seniors, veterans and others on fixed incomes, and . Prohibit our state and local water agencies from using eminent domain to acquire land for new water storage and delivery systems (visit the Association of California Water Agency Web site at w~.acwa.c9m/rnediazone for a copy of their news release). Moreover, unlike Prop. 90, CPOFPA has no exception for actions taken by government to protect the public health or safety, putting communities at significant risk. In short, it would be just as big or a bigger disaster for taxpayers than Prop. 90 would have been. To view the initiative, visit www.a~a.qov/initiatives.c1ick on "Active Measures," and search for "07-0015." Coalition Strategy-Give the Voters A Choice between Real and Phony Reform With CPOFPA likely headed to the June 2008 ballot. the League board of directors believes the League can't risk legislative inaction again. The Homeowners Protection Act initiative is serious and meaningful reform that polling suggests will receive widespread voter support- without all the hidden agendas contained in CPOFPA. The Coalition's polling also strongly suggests that voters do not support the provisions in CPOFPA that would eliminate rent control, prevent future water projects, and stand in the way of responsible land use planning. Finally, the Homeowners Protection Act contains a preemption provision in the unlikely event both measures pass that will ensure it prevails over CPOFPA. 2