Suit to seize land (for Colts Stadium) offends lawmakers

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051231/NEWS02/512310415


Bid aims to pre-empt changes in rules on eminent domain

By Michele McNeil
michele.mcneil@indystar.com

The Indiana stadium authority went to court Friday to seize the N.K. Hurst bean factory in hopes of pre-empting legislative efforts to make it more difficult for government to take private property.
In response, lawmakers said they are even more determined to change the state's eminent domain rules in the 2006 session of the General Assembly. New laws could make it more difficult for the authority to take over the Hurst property.

The Indiana Stadium and Convention Center Building Authority filed its suit in Marion Superior Court in a bid to move the Hurst company off 4.26 acres the authority wants for parking at the Indianapolis Colts' new stadium. The Hurst family has operated its bean business at 230 W. McCarty St. since 1938 and wants to stay put.

As part of its agreement with the Colts, the authority must provide 3,000 parking spaces. For every spot it doesn't provide within a certain distance of the stadium, the authority must provide twice as many spaces to make up the difference.

... more at link ...

I heard Mitch the Bitch say something to a citizen questioner (in his 'Ask The Governor' thingie on Channel 8 last week) to the effect that the state would try as hard as possible NOT to put companies and workers in a position where they'd lose their sites and/or have to move. Ok, the question was related to a different, smaller business outside of Indy proper, but ... isn't a policy, a policy, Governor? :evilfrown:

All this over parking spots, Why don't the lazy ass colts fans walk? They could get a little exercise for once instead of the only exercise they usually get is jumping on and off the colts bandwagon! Leave this company alone, if they pay their property taxes, then Mitch the Bitch has no leg to stand on.

If Indy had this thing called, you know, mass transit...hell, even the Star says the city needs to spend more on it.

and the city should just stuff it!

PS: I am a Colts season ticket holder and I don't like having a government entity take private property in order to benefit a private party.

We must lobby the legislature to change Indiana law and make this retroactive to protect the jobs at NK Hurst.

Its the Supreme Court's fault this is happening!