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Thuggery in Dallas
In late May, one of the items on the agenda of the Dallas City Council was a proposed settlement with a property owner regarding an eminent domain case. Councilwoman Sandy Greyson spoke against the settlement, I’m not blaming anyone that we’re settling this case, but it’s just infuriating that if you’re rich enough you can…
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Strange Bedfellows
It is said that politics sometimes makes strange bedfellows. Politicians who seem to oppose one another on virtually every issue can occasionally agree on one particular issue. In this instance, the bedfellows aren’t two opposing politicians, but two politicians and property rights. Democratic representatives Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Beto O’Rourke of Texas recently announced…
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The Wall Vs. Property Rights
If someone came onto your property without your permission or knowledge and began tearing out your landscaping, you would probably be upset. And rightfully so. On July 20, workers entered the privately owned National Butterfly Center in South Texas and began removing trees and vegetation that had been planted to attract butterflies. The workers were…
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Principles, Propositions, and Property Rights
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on October 14, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. When an individual abandons principles he approaches each issue in isolation from other issues. He has no way to integrate or connect seemingly separate issues, and deals with each on a case-by-case basis. The resulting conclusions are often contradictory,…
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A Private Beach is Threatened
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on July 23, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. While the Texas Open Beaches Act (TOBA) made land along the shore “public property”, a small section of beach in Galveston has remained private property since the enactment of TOBA in 1959. According to the Chronicle: The Legislature approved…
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Eminent Domain in the Medical Center
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on April 22, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. I previously wrote about the use of eminent domain by the Texas Medical Center to seize land for an expansion. Now, the Texas legislature is considering a bill that will strip Houston’s largest employer of most of its eminent…
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The Pen is Mightier than the Storm Surge
This was originally posted on Live Oaks on September 20, 2008. Comments have not been migrated. If you have seen photos of the Texas coast after Hurricane Ike, you are aware of the the destruction caused by the storm. Thousands of homes were seriously damaged or destroyed, and many will be prohibited from rebuilding. And…
