Eminent Domain Reform Now, the group working to promote the Homeowners Protection Act, submitted over 1.1 million signatures to county election officials on Wednesday, Nov. 28, to qualify the measure for the June 2008 ballot.

The Homeowners Protection Act will provide iron-clad protections for homeowners by prohibiting state and local governments from using eminent domain to secure a home to transfer to a private developer. The measure provides responsible eminent domain reform in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo v. City of New London decision of 2005.

The broad coalition supporting the Homeowners Protection Act includes businesses, labor groups, environmentalists, seniors, homeowners, affordable housing advocates and local government.

"California cities are supporting the Homeowners Protection Act because we feel that homeowners deserve additional protections from eminent domain," explained Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities. "This straightforward measure will protect our residents’ most prized possession without attempting to sneak in unrelated and dangerous provisions, unlike other faux eminent domain reforms out there."

The League thanks all of the city officials across the state who contributed their personal time to help the coalition gather signatures.

Other ’Eminent Domain Reform’ Measure Riddled with Hidden Agendas

There is another so-called "eminent domain reform" measure that has submitted signatures to qualify for the June 2008 ballot. Called the California Property Owner and Farmland Protection Act (CPOFPA), it is similar to the defeated Proposition 90 of 2006.

Funding for this measure, dubbed the "Hidden Agendas Scheme," comes from wealthy apartment owners, mobile park owners and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (among others). The groups are using the issue of eminent domain as a Trojan horse, in a deceptive attempt to trick voters into abolishing rent control and other tenant projection laws.

CPOFPA also contains poorly drafted provisions that count stop future water projects, destroy local land use planning and erode environmental protections.