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The below announcement came from The Castle Coalition, and we are reposting it here. Members from SAC will be at the Capital next Monday, and we hope to see you there too!
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Friends:
As you know, the Pennsylvania Senate will vote on S.B. 881 next Monday, December 5th (or possibly December 6th). This bill would prohibit the seizure of private property for private commercial development. As we have previously mentioned, there are currently efforts by politically-connected and financially-interested developers and their government allies to exempt Philadelphia from the provisions of this bill. There is also a major push to allow for taking areas with "economic blight," where the area is not performing as well economically as other areas. These amendments would seriously undercut the protections the bill provides. In particular, the concept of "economic blight" puts lower-income residents at greater risk of condemnation for private development. And, of course, any home or small business could generate more tax dollars as luxury condominiums or a big-box store.
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS NOW!
We appreciate your efforts so far in support of this bill, but we still need your help. Please contact your senators NOW and urge them to vote for S.B. 881 without amendments that attempt to weaken the bill and thwart real reform. Even if you have already contacted your senators, we ask that you contact them again. We only have one week left to prove to the Senate that Pennsylvanians will not tolerate the abuse of eminent domain anymore. Make your voice heard! You can find your senator’s email address here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senemail.cfm. In addition to contacting your own senators, please also e-mail the following:
David J. Brightbill, Majority floor leader,
Robert C. Jubelirer, President Pro Tempore,
Michael J. Stack, Philadelphia,
Shirley M. Kitchen, Philadelphia,
Christine M. Tartaglione, Philadelphia,
Vincent J. Fumo, Philadelphia,
Anthony H. Williams, Philadelphia,
Vincent J. Hughes, Philadelphia,
LeAnna M. Washington, Philadelphia,
Jim Ferlo, Pittsburgh,
Jay Costa, Pittsburgh,
Wayne D. Fontana, Pittsburgh, fontana@pasenate.com
DAY AT THE CAPITOL - MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
We will be hosting a Day at the Capitol on Monday, December 5th, at 11am in Room 8EA of the State Capitol. Senator Jeffrey Piccola, the sponsor of S.B. 881, Castle Coalition Coordinator Steven Anderson and Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Dana Berliner will be there to briefly discuss the bill and eminent domain reform in Pennsylvania, and afterwards you will have the opportunity to visit your senators and urge them to vote for this legislation without the aforementioned amendments (or any other amendments that special interests introduce in order to weaken the bill). We’ll provide you with t-shirts, stickers and materials to prepare you to speak with your senators. Here are the details:
Day at the Capitol
Monday, December 5th, 2005
11am (Senate convenes at 2pm)
Room 8EA, State Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA
Driving directions to the Capitol can be found here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/help/driving_directions.cfm.
Street parking will be limited. Three convenient parking garages include:
Locust St. Surface Parking, 2nd & Locust Streets
Walnut Street Garage, 215 Walnut Street
Forum Place, 5th & Walnut Streets
Please respond to this email with the number of people that will accompany you to the Capitol next Monday.
We thank you again for your support and efforts so far in achieving real eminent domain reform in Pennsylvania, and we look forward to seeing you at the Capitol!
Best,
Christina Walsh
Assistant Castle Coalition Coordinator
Institute for Justice
(703) 682-9320
www.ij.org
www.castlecoalition.org