My latest publishing

This one was on eminent domain. Thankfully the LaPorte County Council passed a resolution against eminent domain, the same day that my letter was published in the News Dispatch

The Supreme Court recently made, what I believe to be the biggest mistake of my lifetime, Reducing the standards of eminent domain to the level of a joke. Right now a community can seize a person's property simply under the guise that it "benefits the community." The standard for that seems to be as low as if it increases the tax roll base and/or employs more people than the previous utilization of the property. Essentially, a business could decide that they want to turn your house into a gas station, if the town's administration agree, they could seize your property and allow the company to build the gas station. The property’s owner would have zero recourse, as long as they receive fair market value for their property. Basically, all property becomes the local community’s property, because there is no way to stop the local municipality from taking it from residents for the greater good. Think about that for a second, community property being used for the greater good of all. When I was in elementary school as a young tyke, that was taught to me as Communism and as evil. What has changed in the last 20 years?

This is scary stuff folks. What is even scarier is that our own town

is attempting to do this exact thing to an entire area without a plan that serves “the greater good.” They want to tear down seemingly profitable businesses with no care for their status as private property. If Blocksom and the other businesses want to leave, that is their right, but it is also within their rights to be a profitable company, on their own private property. As long as there is no great public need for their land (I am talking about an interstate of something that is essential to a town), they should be allowed to operate like the framers of the constitution intended they should.

My other problem with this is the long term effects it could have on Michigan City. My wife and I were both born and raised here and are about to have our first child. We are currently in the process of looking for a house to buy here, but a part of me wonders if we should be doing so. At anytime McDonalds could decide that our place would

make a nice drive through, and Michigan City could take away our house. Is the town in which we want to lay down roots? Will making the largest purchase of our lives be safe and secure?

My challenge today is to Mayor Oberlie and the city council to step to the forefront of this historical issue and pass an ordinance to make it impossible to use eminent domain except in extraordinary situations. Please, protect our rights to private property Mr. Mayor.