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San Francisco, San Mateo County, CA June 6, 2006 Election
Smart Voter

End "Redevelopment" Abuse!

By Mike Garza

Candidate for United States Representative; District 12; Republican Party

This information is provided by the candidate
Stop the Government from using "Eminent Domain" to steal private property to enrich private developers!
DID YOU KNOW THE SUPREME COURT HAS VOTED TO ALLOW "REDEVELOPMENT" TO BE USED TO TAKE YOUR PROPERTY TO ENRICH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS?

That's right!

In a 5 to 4 decision the Supreme Court eviscerated our sacred property rights by allowing the government to use "eminent domain" - even when the purpose is to acquire YOUR property so a private devloper can make big $$$ building strip malls and condos!

The Supreme Court ruling allows local governments to force property owners to sell and make way for private economic development when government officials decide it would benefit the public, even if the property is not blighted and the new project's success is not guaranteed.

As a business owner in the Bay View Hunters Point area I have PERSONALLY been victimized by "redevelopment" twice.

I built up successful businesses in two different locations during the 1960's and 1970's. BOTH properties were "taken" by the government. BOTH properties STILL are sitting undeveloped by the government - 20 years later!

WHAT A WASTE!

I could have been using the properties and paying the government taxes on those properties . . . but, instead, they are just sitting!

I AM LUCKY! I WAS ABLE TO RELOCATE (though the government cheated me and refused to even pay relocation benefits after the evicted me!)

MOST victims of "redevelopment" are poor and minority.

When the government "takes" their property, it pays "peanuts", and then usually shortchanges the victims on even the meager "relocation" benefits which the law mandates. If they are business owners, "redevelopment" generally puts its victims out of business!

Usually it is politically connected developers who benefit - and get to acquire the "redeveloped" properties and make megabucks!

An example: Under ex-Mayor Brown, San Francisco used its "redevlopment" authority to give Nordstrom a rezoning so this luxury stor can cash in! Not surprisingly, Nordstrom hired one of Mayor Brown's cronies - Democratic Party Chair Natalie Berg - as an executive!

THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO CURB "REDEVELOPMENT" ABUSES!

This is NOT just a Republican position!

Congresswomen Maxine Waters - a VERY LIBERAL Democrat who represents a dominantly African-American district in Los Angeles AGREES!

So does Congressman John Conyers - another VERY LIBERAL Democrat who represents a dominantly African-American district in Detrit!

Like me, Congresswoman Waters and Congressman Conyers have seen first-hand that the REAL victims of "redevelopment" are usually poor and minority people.

Where are the Democrats?

While a few - such as Conyers and Waters - have had the courage to do the right thing . . . most Democratic members of Congress have followed the lead of Nancy Pelosi and oppose reform of "eminent domain" laws!

Property owners should not be forced to sell to make way for private commercial projects.

Whether you vote for me or not, please contact Congressman Lantos and urge him to join Congresswoman Waters, Congressman Conyers and the Republican majority in the House, in SUPPORTING "redevelopment" reform!

Here is contact infomation for the Congressman:

U.S. Representative Tom Lantos ca12lantos@mail.house.gov 400 S. El Camino Real San Mateo 94402, 650-342-0300 Fax 650-375-8270 2413 Rayburn Building, Washington DC 20515 202-225-3531

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