When voters head to the polls today, they will be asked to take a position on two state propositions that address the issues of eminent domain and rent-controlled apartments. Under current California law, the government may take property from a private owner if the land will be utilized for “public use” and if the owner is paid “just compensation” and relocation costs. Proposition 98 is a constitutional amendment that would limit the rights of state and local governments to take ownership of property for the purposes of transferring it to a private party. Government entities would also be barred from taking property for a purpose substantially similar to how the private owner used it or for the purpose of extracting the land’s natural resources. For the full story visit http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9463756
