Liberty
Matters News Service
January 26, 2006
Bank Denies Loans to Developers
In wake of the Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London, the nation's ninth-largest financial holding company, BB&T, announced this week that it will deny loans to developers building private projects, including shopping malls, on land acquired through eminent domain. With more than 1,400 branches mainly in the Southeast, John A. Allison, chairman and CEO of the bank said; "The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by the government solely for private use is extremely misguided - in fact, it's just plain wrong." BB&T appears to be the first bank to adopt such a policy. Perhaps we all should ask our local banks to adopt a similar policy and that would begin to stop much of what is occurring in our country after Kelo.
Bank to Deny Loans if Land Was
Seized
Press Release: BB&T
Announces Eminent Domain Policy
Oklahoma Church and Kelo
Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. New London, another little church in Sand Springs, OK is standing in the way of the city council's desire for more money for city services. It, along with other homes and businesses, has been targeted as a run-down area near downtown for replacement with superstores like Home Depot. Forty-one property owners have accepted the city's offers but the pastor and congregation of the Centennial Baptist Church are digging in. The issue has sparked attention from far outside Sand Springs' boundaries. The local newspaper called it "a battle between God Almighty and the almighty dollar." Hannity and Colmes, of Fox News, broadcast the story Wednesday. "Eminent domain is not being used at this time to acquire property," City Manager Loy Calhoun said in a statement Friday. But the Reverend Roosevelt Gildon said that he and members of the congregation came away from a meeting with a relocation agent working with the city believing they had little choice but to sell. "If you tell me this is going to happen," Gildon said, "that tells me it's eminent domain."
Humble Church is at Center of
Debate on Eminent Domain
The New Boston Tea Party
Voters in Weare, New Hampshire will soon have the opportunity to vote on a measure authorizing the seizure of Supreme Court Justice David Souter's home to make room for a hotel and restaurant complex. Justice Souter voted with the majority in the Kelo v. New London case. Organizer of the hotel project, Logan Darrow Clements, has proposed to build the Lost Liberty Hotel on Souter's property, along with the Just Desserts Cafe and a museum that chronicles the loss of freedom in America. Supporters gathered the 25 signatures necessary to place the measure on the March 14th ballot. "The petition asks whether the town should take Souter's land for development as an inn; whether to set up a trust fund to accept donations for legal expenses; and whether to set up a second trust fund to accept donations to compensate Souter for taking his land." "This is in the tradition of the Boston Tea Party and the Pine Tree Riot," said Clements. "All we're trying to do is put an end to eminent domain abuse [by having those who advocate or facilitate it] live under it, so they understand why it needs to end."
Group Seeks Souter Eviction
as Protest
Terrorism Is Terrorism
A federal grand jury in Eugene, Oregon, last week, indicted eleven people for 17 arson attacks in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado and Wyoming over the past ten years. The 65-count indictment accused members of "The Family," as they call themselves, of carrying out attacks on a U. S. Forest Service ranger station, U. S. Bureau of Land Management wild horse facilities, lumber companies, sabotaging a high-tension power line and burning down a Vail, Colorado ski resort. "The indictment tells a story of four-and-a-half years of arson, vandalism, violence and destruction claimed to have been executed on behalf of the Animal Liberation Front or Earth Liberation Front, extremist movements known to support acts of domestic terrorism," said U. S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at a press conference. FBI Director Robert Mueller, appearing with Gonzales, said; "Terrorism is terrorism, no matter what the motive. There is a clear difference between constitutionally protected advocacy ... and violent criminal activity," Mueller said.
11 Charged in Eco-terrorism
Arsons
Sen. McCain's Overzealous Reform Bill
Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), has filed S. 2128, The Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act, to curb the bloated appetites of career politicians in the wake of the scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff's gift's and campaign donations to cooperating congressmen. However, it could have a detrimental affect upon the way grassroots, non-profit organizations do their work. Under the McCain bill if grassroots non-profit organizations hire lobbyists to work on issues important to their membership, almost everything related to that lobbying would have to be reported within 20 days. The government would have to know the names of the lobbyists, their firm, the total amount of money spent on the effort, including the amount spent on "grassroots lobbying" (mobilizing an organization's membership or the general public at large). S. 2128 will weaken our First Amendment rights specifically the part where "Congress shall make no law…abridging…the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances."