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July 29, 2006
Eminent Domain Use Run Amok
Yet, that is exactly what is happening in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the home of Oklahoma State University.
Recently, the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents gave the university permission to use eminent domain to acquire a piece of property that the university wants to use as part of a large sports complex called an athletic village.
According to an AP story (Link), the athletic village is to feature "a new baseball stadium, upgraded facilities for track, tennis and soccer and an indoor practice facility for football, baseball and other sports."
As it turns out, promoting athletics over academics isn't new to the university.
Back when I was a student there, the university's library was rated as being one of the worst university libraries in the nation.
So, what was at the top of the university's priority list?
Was it improving the university's library?
No.
What had priority over library improvement was the installation of lights at the university's football stadium so that the university's football team could play games at night.
I am so glad that I left that university before graduating.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Jenks, Oklahoma still believes that his city can use eminent domain to seize land owned by the city of Tulsa that is within the Tulsa city limit.
The mayor wants that land for a proposed toll bridge that is to be used to connect Jenks with Tulsa.
The problem with the proposed toll bridge is that the people who want the bridge also want the bridge to connect to a particular residential street owned by the city of Tulsa.
Well, the Tulsans living on that particular street are opposed to their street being used by Jenks motorists, because the street cannot handle the proposed additional traffic.
Members of Tulsa's City Council are also opposed to the use that particular street for the same reason.
It would be better for Tulsa for the proposed bridge to connect to another Tulsa street that is capable of handling more traffic.
Does the mayor of Jenks care?
No.
It would cost more money to connect to the more-suitable Tulsa street.
So, Jenks' mayor would rather do the less-expensive thing than do the right thing.
What a typical politician!
Of course, he would fit in well with members of Congress.
Cross-posted at Dodo World.
Posted by Dodo David at July 29, 2006 08:54 PM
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