Private Property

" The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'" — President Ronald Reagan I imagine Ronald Reagan would have had a chuckle over the government fumbling in Newport Beach over erecting a statue of him, the 40th president of the United States. Here's hoping the City Council puts the controversy out of its misery Tuesday night by suggesting that any Reagan tribute — which has proven to be wildly divisive even more than two decades after he left office — should be a function of the private sector, including its placement on private property.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine 20 years down the road. Will the Back Bay be dredged? The Great Park built? In three decades the city of Newport Beach foresees gridlock, especially at the intersection of Jamboree Road and the 73 Freeway. City leaders envision so many red taillights that they want to widen the road there. But to do that, they must build on private property. Karen Dabby and her husband, Frank, own some of that property, and they're not buying the city's argument.

The Newport Beach City Council may soon join other local governments across the country and limit the power of eminent domain to take private property for commercial development. Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry said Wednesday that he will introduce an ordinance to prohibit the use of eminent domain for the purpose of taking private property and transferring it to another private property owner. He plans to pattern the ordinance after proposed Measure A ? drafted by Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby ?

John Locke’s Second Treatise on government established the philosophical foundation for much of the American system of government — and brought forth the idea of “natural rights,” such as life, liberty and the right to own property. The wording of the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution can be traced directly to the teachings of Locke. While many Americans are familiar with the 5th Amendment for granting them protections against self-incrimination, the 5th Amendment contains an even more important statement of individual rights.

Gov. Schwarzenegger recently argued Prop. 98 would hurt public works projects by restricting the government’s eminent domain authority. It would phase out rent control and make it harder for the government to force the sale of private property when it’s deemed in the public’s best interest. Where do you stand on Prop. 98, and why?   In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to use eminent domain to take land from a private property owner and transfer it to private developers under the guise that developing the land would be a “public benefit.

State Sen. Tom Harman held an open meeting with constituents Thursday, but a low turnout prompted him to duck out early. One questioner, Jean Stirling-Stevens of the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League, aired her concerns about the impact of eminent domain on mobile homes. California is one of a few states to not respond to Keno vs. City of New London, a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court Decision that held private property may be appropriated and transferred to another party, should it provide demonstrable public benefit.

Mathis Winkler CORONA DEL MAR -- What good is a policy if there's no way to enforce it? That's a question Edward Selich, the chair of the city's planning commission, raised last September when he and his colleagues reviewed plans for two new homes on the bluffs in Corona del Mar. The Breakers Drive residents wanted to build their houses taller than allowed and had to get permission from the commissioners....

June Casagrande The strength of the pro-drinking, pro-partying political contingent is that there's never a shortage of people who want the government to keep its hands off their efforts to have a good time. But their weakness is that sometimes having a good time today is a higher priority than fighting for the right to have fun tomorrow. Tonight's City Council meeting will be a case in point as members of FreeNewport.com rally supporters to come out to the meeting right in the middle of a Laker game.

In no way does this city ordinance unfairly target day laborers (“Police sweep spurs lawsuit,” Feb. 3). First, if you are here illegally, you don’t have rights that Americans have fought for because residing and working in the United States illegally is illegal, and you are no longer protected by the 1st Amendment. To say that they are is just preposterous. Second, the argument about sign holders — i.e. schoolchildren holding car wash signs, raising money for school, or business sign twirlers — really has nothing to do with this because they have been given the consent of the property owner, so they are allowed to be there.

" The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.'" — President Ronald Reagan I imagine Ronald Reagan would have had a chuckle over the government fumbling in Newport Beach over erecting a statue of him, the 40th president of the United States. Here's hoping the City Council puts the controversy out of its misery Tuesday night by suggesting that any Reagan tribute — which has proven to be wildly divisive even more than two decades after he left office — should be a function of the private sector, including its placement on private property.

An Orange County judge ruled against the residents of a private island in Newport Bay in their fight to keep their footbridge from being opened to the public. The Bay Island Club, an association of 24 homeowners, had sued the California Coastal Commission after the commission ordered the association to make the bridge to the island accessible to everyone. One of the commission's charges is to expand the public's access to the coast. Superior Court Judge Tam Nomoto rejected most aspects of the residents' case late last year, and the ruling was announced in January.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine 20 years down the road. Will the Back Bay be dredged? The Great Park built? In three decades the city of Newport Beach foresees gridlock, especially at the intersection of Jamboree Road and the 73 Freeway. City leaders envision so many red taillights that they want to widen the road there. But to do that, they must build on private property. Karen Dabby and her husband, Frank, own some of that property, and they're not buying the city's argument.

For nearly 10 years, George and Sharlee McNamee have waged a legal battle against the state on their very own turf. Now, it appears that the Corona del Mar couple has finally lost the case against the California Coastal Commission, which pitted questions about rights of private property owners versus the public's right to beach access. Last week, the California Supreme Court turned down the McNamees' petition to review a lower court's decision in the drawn-out dispute over a picnic area owned by them next to Corona del Mar State Beach.

Thank you for helping publicize the outrageous actions of the “run amok” California Coastal Commission (“Property owners fight for picnic spot,” Feb. 19; “Court rules to remove picnic spot,” March 4). We commend your publication for covering the terrible abuse of power by the commission concerning the McNamees’ beach property. American freedom is threatened by unelected agencies such as this that extend power and authority far beyond the purpose originally intended by California voters.

Gov. Schwarzenegger recently argued Prop. 98 would hurt public works projects by restricting the government’s eminent domain authority. It would phase out rent control and make it harder for the government to force the sale of private property when it’s deemed in the public’s best interest. Where do you stand on Prop. 98, and why?   In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to use eminent domain to take land from a private property owner and transfer it to private developers under the guise that developing the land would be a “public benefit.

John Locke’s Second Treatise on government established the philosophical foundation for much of the American system of government — and brought forth the idea of “natural rights,” such as life, liberty and the right to own property. The wording of the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution can be traced directly to the teachings of Locke. While many Americans are familiar with the 5th Amendment for granting them protections against self-incrimination, the 5th Amendment contains an even more important statement of individual rights.

State Sen. Tom Harman held an open meeting with constituents Thursday, but a low turnout prompted him to duck out early. One questioner, Jean Stirling-Stevens of the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League, aired her concerns about the impact of eminent domain on mobile homes. California is one of a few states to not respond to Keno vs. City of New London, a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court Decision that held private property may be appropriated and transferred to another party, should it provide demonstrable public benefit.

Talk about a wake-up call. A gas station attendant working the coffee machine got a rude surprise Sunday morning when a 57-year-old woman who thought she was putting her car in reverse plowed into the store. The woman put her Jeep Liberty into drive rather than reverse at Chevron, 3000 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. When she started moving, she panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake, Officer Scott Dibble said. “It was so scary, everything fell down and the door broke,” said Zeineb Abrahim, the clerk who scrambled to get out of the way of the car. “I didn’t believe the car was inside.