Wasilla + Eminent Domain = Epic fail

[bozothedeathmachine]

Note: This is about Wasilla, AK. Of course, Palin in mentioned, but it doesn't have much to do with her, at least not in the context of this post.

Linky

I'm no fan of eminent domain. I think it's exploited often enough to have it banished from the books. So this made me giggle.

After Ms. Palin left office, the city decided to take 80 acres of Mr. Lundgren's property through eminent domain. An Alaska court confirmed the city's right to do so and ordered that an arbitrator determine the appropriate price.

Last year, the arbitrator ordered the city to pay $836,378 for the 80-acre parcel, far more than the $126,000 Wasilla originally thought it would pay for a piece of land 65 acres larger. The arbitrator also determined that the city owed Mr. Lundgren $336,000 in interest. Wasilla's legal bill since the eminent domain action has come to roughly $250,000 so far, according to Mr. Klinkner, the city attorney.

And another bit (bolding mine)

The McCain-Palin campaign referred questions about the sports complex to Mr. Leonard, the former city finance chief. He blamed the Nature Conservancy for dealing with two different potential buyers at one time. "That's what caused the confusion," he said.

Stupid free market. Entertaining two potential buyers at once grumble grumble grumble...

 

[a_unique_person]

"It's too bad that the city of Wasilla didn't do their homework and secure the land before they began construction," said Kathy Wells, a longtime activist here. "She was not your ceremonial mayor; she was in charge of running the city. So it was her job to make sure things were done correctly."

Like I said, what's the difference between Palin and Bush?

 

[a_unique_person]

Ms. Palin marched ahead, making the public case for a sales-tax increase and $14.7 million bond issue to pay for the sports center, which was to feature a running track, basketball courts and a hockey rink. At the time, the city's annual budget was about $20 million. In a March 2002 referendum, residents approved the mayor's plan by a 20-vote margin, 306 to 286. The city cleared roads, installed utilities and made preparations to build.

Got to stop those big spending, big taxing gubmints. Yessiree.

 

[quixotecoyote]

If it's about sports or wars, it doesn't count as big government. Duh.