Eminent domain authority bowed to power of the people

-- Eron Ben-Yehuda

Locals confirmed that democratic power ultimately rests with the people

when they forced the City Council to back down on its threat to buy

Downtown residential properties by force.

The council wanted to hold the power of eminent domain over homes to make

way for a multimillion dollar hotel, restaurant and retail complex that

will stretch along the 400 and 500 blocks of Pacific Coast Highway.

Standing in the way are what the city refers to as “substandard” rental

units above the El Don Liquor store and behind Papa Joe’s Pizza.

As they voted to reinstate the power that expired in 1994, council

members tried to minimize their action by stressing that only a few

apartments would be affected. But many residents, fearing their homes

would be next, signed a petition in protest. Enough signatures -- more

than 10,000 in a month’s time -- were gathered to qualify for a

referendum on the March ballot.

Fearing a potentially humiliating defeat at the hands of the voters, the

council changed its mind and revoked the power on its own.

City officials, who still have the power of eminent domain over

commercial properties in the area, still favor the proposed development.

But officials now hope all the property owners affected will come to an

agreement with the developer.