"When the most powerful forces in state government collude with the real estate industry, injustices will happen, and today is a result of that."

More ugly news for the Brooklyn property owners fighting eminent domain abuse in the Atlantic Yards project. Yesterday Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Abraham Gerges granted New York state's petition to seize the holdout homes and businesses on behalf of real estate tycoon Bruce Ratner, who plans to build a new basketball stadium for the abysmal New Jersey Nets (a team Ratner co-owns). As the New York Daily News writes:

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Abraham Gerges tossed a challenge to the eminent domain condemnation—a final blow to property owners who fought the wrecking ball for six years.

State officials said the occupants would be evicted in the next few months—but Ratner plans to hold a ground-breaking ceremony March 11.

It's not technically the final blow, as there are two more legal challenges still pending, but things don't look good. As embattled property owner (and Reason contributor) Daniel Goldstein stated yesterday:

Today is a very sad day to be a Brooklynite. Our state government, long mired in corruption and scandal, has bent over backwards to give Bruce Ratner whatever he wants, including my home, and the homes of other citizens. I am angry with our so-called political leaders who proudly stand by their abuse of power. When the most powerful forces in state government collude with the real estate industry, injustices will happen, and today is a result of that.

Comments

[P Brooks]

Ratner plans to hold a ground-breaking ceremony March 11.

If somebody pounded that bastard flat with his golden shovel (live on teevee), and left his carcass in the hole, I would vote to acquit.

[Dustin Been No]

Bought and paid for, corruption is bliss. Its the American way dude.

Jess
http://www.total-anonymity.cz.tc

[J sub D]

In New York State, you don't own property, you rent it (property taxes) on a month to month lease that can be revoked by the landlord (New York State) for any reason whatsoever.

A tenement renter has more legal protection from his slumlord that a property owner has from the oh so easily corrupted government.

[TrickyVic]

"""In New York State, you don't own property, you rent it (property taxes) ""

If you wish to view it in that light, it is true for any state with property taxes.

[J sub D]

True. My follow up comment was the point I wished to make.

In New York State, paying the rent and taking care of the property doesn't stop the landlord from unilaterally breaking the contract.

[Almanian]

You can have my house when you pry it from my co...oh, never mind. Fuckers - another reason to hate NY.

My best wishes and support to the holdouts - hope things turn in the pending cases, despite the bleak outlook.

[Jersey Patriot]

It still boggles my mind that you can be forced to sell your home to the state so someone can bulldoze it and build a basketball arena. Hockey, I could understand. But basketball?

[TrickyVic]

""But basketball?""

Not just basketball, the worst friggin team in basketball.

[J sub D]

9 and 53. On track for the worst record in NBA history.

[zoltan]

Does Abraham Gerges get shares in the Jets for his ruling? Not the best reward, you know.

[Michael Ejercito]

Here is a great idea.

Why do not the homeowners facing eviction dump toxic wastes, such as herbicides, pesticides, and used motor oil, onto the soil of the condemned property. Environmental laws would force the new owner to spend millions cleaning up the place.

[J sub D]

And send them (the rightful property owners) to jail.

Maybe that's why they don't.

[Michael Ejercito]

If only there were no police to jail people...

[Karl]

Where's Howard Roark when you need em?

[roxtar10870]

I'm sure that after this arena is built, if you look closely, you'll see judge Gerges sitting courtside next to a whole host of New York A-listers and NYC's political elite. This is the sort of thing that creates the Joe Stacks of our world.

[Nick]

I'm surprised their aren't more dead judges, developers, and NBA team owners.

[virginia]

so what are you going to do about it, Daniel?

[Lamar]

This type of obvious corruption part of the reason I left New York.

[TrickyVic]

So how do you like the unobvious corruption of your new location?

[Lamar]

About $3-5 billion in high speed and commuter rails, another $500 million for a theater, $500M for the Orlando Magic, $10-$20m to this developer, grease that developer with $5-$10m, and on and on and on. They are spending my money, MY money.

But they aren't kicking me out of my home.

[Probot]

Today is a very sad day to be a Brooklynite an American.

FIFY

[Gene Berkman]

Bruce Bender is in charge of government relations for the Ratner company. If you want to share your thoughts with him, you can email him @ [e-mail]