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Stop Rick Caruso’s land grab in Glendale
By
Larry Gilbert
– February 15, 2011
After the Kelo land grab decision was handed down by the US Supreme Court many of the 50 states enacted legislation to prevent future redevelopment abuses that included implementation of local police powers of eminent domain. Unfortunately the voters of California were asleep and said it won’t happen to us so they rejected Prop 98 and approved Prop 99. What we said at that time is that with one possible exception, your private property will not be protected with Prop 99 but we lost that fight.
Fast forward to today where Ray Patel’s Golden Key Hotel on Colorado Street is being threatened by the Glendale redevelopment agency. His options. Sell out to developer Rick Caruso who owns the adjacent American at Brand mega mall for future expansion, or renovate. As of today the city is threatening to seize the Golden Key Hotel for Ray Caruso. Mr Patel was forced to submit a plan for redevelopment of his hotel or risk losing it to condemnation. “city officials determined that Caruso is more qualified to redevelop the site, and that an expanded Americana would be more beneficial for the city in terms of sales tax revenue and neighborhood compatibility.”
This reminds me of the 99 cents only store fight in Lancaster, CA where Costco wanted to expand for the same objective. To expand sales tax revenues. 99 Cents Only Store owner David Gold had a lease, did not own the property, yet with support from property rights attorney Gideon Kanner prevailed in his fight.”You can’t condemn someone’s property to appease a corporation that just wants to get bigger.”
A special hearing of the Glendale Redevelopment Agency is being held at 9 a.m. today.
Welcome to America the land of the free and Fifth Amendment protection.
Supporting Mr Patel at this morning’s hearing are representatives of the Institute for Justice and the California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights.
PS: Mr. Patel’s property is NOT FOR SALE.