In what is probably a somewhat positive environment for restructuring the eminent domain laws, the possibilities of our local issue becoming a center of that effort is increasing.
Anti-tax group eyes K Street
If eminent domain is used by city, it would be issue in a state ballot measure.
By Terri Hardy - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, August 17, 2007
A push for the renovation of K Street has turned ugly, pitting the city against Moe Mohanna, the owner of several blighted downtown properties.
If the city were to use its biggest stick and try to forcibly take Mohanna's land, it could set up an unintended result: turning Mohanna into the poster child for a ballot initiative looking to crack down on the use of eminent domain.
Mohanna's legal fight with the city, according to sponsors of the statewide ballot initiative, would certainly be prime fodder for their campaign.
"Moe Mohanna's case won't just be a local issue then, it will be a statewide issue," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Organization, one of the initiative's sponsors.
Already, Coupal said, Mohanna has contacted him about his legal wrangling with the city.
The city is suing Mohanna and his development team to force them to go through with an agreed-upon land swap with another developer. The deal was devised to allow the revitalization of two of K Street's worst stretches -- the 700 and 800 blocks.
A court ruling this week put the success of the city's suit in question when a judge found Sacramento wasn't likely to prevail at trial. Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster found that a fire and demolition of buildings in the 800 block lowered its value, making it an unfair trade for Mohanna and his team.
