No EMINENT DOMAIN on 700 E. Tahquitz

Castle Coalition

We are starting to get some national coverage. Check out the Castle Coalition's site at http://www.castlecoalition.org/ . We maid the "in the news" section.

Click Download survival-guide.pdf  to download their Eminent Domain Survival Guide. It is very insightful.

-Lois

A Big Lesson From Littleton

This is a BIG CONCEPT by a small town in Colorodo called Littleton. They are creating a small business revolution with a concept called Economic Gardening. Click here.

From Chris to City Council

Dear elected officials,

I recently relocated to Palm Springs from San Diego, and have recently learned of your move to attempt to change ownership of the land at 700 E Taquitz Lane. I would call it eminent domain, as many incorrectly have, but of course the definition of eminent domain is, "The power to take private property for public use by the state or municipality with just compensation.". Of course the Hard Rock Hotel is not a public use facility, or at least no more so than Anderson Travel. It is a real disappointment to leave the corrupted city officials of San Diego to come to this nice little town only to learn that the worst traits of human nature prevail in politics here as well. At least you're not trying to put a strip club there, right? There must be hope for humanity...

Seriously, what gives you the right to think you can take land from one private citizen and give it to another? And more importantly, take land form from one long-standing, succesfull family of the Palm Springs community and give it to some outside corporation? I can't wait to hear the judge in the future case putting you back in your place, and then the voters. I don't normally vote for local officails, but I'll be there to rally and vote against every one of you who supports this shameful attempt.

-Chris

EMAIL City Council

CLICK HERE if you would like to share your concerns with City Council.

Item to Download and Email

Download LoisBlog_Card.pdf

Here is a pdf to download and email to everyone you know.

-Lois

Desert Sun Posts

Below are comments from the Desert Sun Blog regarding the article that ran yesterday. Thank you all SO much for your support!!

We had over 1000 hits on the blog yesterday!

-Lois Anderson

City and Nexus versus Anderson Travel Unrealistic
September 13, 11:49 a.m.

Speaking as a recently retired editor and communications executive with 30 years worldwide travel and tourism industry experience allow me to say that Palm Springs city officials' and Nexus Development's so-called "LOGIC" to remove Anderson Travel from its present location is an inordinately short-sighted business decision. The very market (domestic and international travelers) that Hard Rock Hotel seeks needs all of the services provided by Anderson Travel, as do the future condo and other residents. With innovative designs Nexus Development can build around and include the Anderson Travel property in their new complex.
SHAME ON ELECTED OFFICIALS and NEXUS FOR NOT RESEARCHING THEIR DECISION!

-- Dee Minic
Desert Hot Springs

Eminent Domain
September 13, 11:37 a.m.

Eminent domain is another government function being abused for the benefit of rich political donors.
How can leaders reconcile touting what a great free society we have, and espouse the wonders of capitalism, then force a private citizen to sell their property to benefit another private citizen?
The same way we can support terrorists in other countries to get what we want. Study latin American politics from the 1970's forward. Check out what we were doing with "the school of the Americas" in Panama.
Our government DOES bad things in the world. We do need to care what other countries think of us. We don't live in a vacuum. We are the last great superpower. That means everyone is waiting for us to fall. If we are so arrogant to say we don't need anyone else, and do what we want then we create a new rift of "us and them" being us against the world?
I Love my country, but we have horribly corrupt leadership.
Politics isn't Nascar; you don't just pick a politician and love them because they have your favorite number. You are electing people who are making decisions that affect all of us; some of us don't survive their whims.
Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn't mean they are a good person.
Please look at the actions of the shepherd before you blindly follow, sometimes they are leading the flock to slaughter in the marketplace in the name of profit.

100% Lois Anderson's decision
September 13, 10:11 a.m.

Its unfortunate how POWER and MONEY has its influence to ones purpose...

-- Dayna

Lois Anderson is wedged between a Hard Rock
September 13, 09:19 a.m.

Eminemt Domain by a city is for public use not private ---are some council members pockets being greased by this action? Shame on the City council for even suggesting this action !!

-- Dick Steiner
Palm Springs

Lois Anderson is wedged between a Hard Rock
September 13, 08:17 a.m.

This Palm Springs city council is so tacky, common and revolting --- they should be pushed out of office.
Real third rate trash.

-- Michael Grace
Palm Springs

Eminent Domain

September 13, 08:03 a.m.

If the City of Palm Springs is going to use eminent domain to tear down a travel agency to build a hotel why don't they use eminent domain to tear down Wessman's derelict shopping mall in the center of downtown to build something useful and fitting in the location in the center of town. Wessman has held this town hostage too long and it is clear that the present mayor and majority on the City Council have been bought out by his devious and selfish plans.

-- Robert
Palm Springs

Corrupt Mayor and Council
September 13, 04:39 a.m.

It's pretty obvious that Oden and the rest of his henchmen on the council are firmly in the backpockets of the developers who only want to turn Palm Springs into another Vegas. This is being done not for "the good of the city and it's future" but merely to line everyone's pockets with lots and lots of cash. It's truly unfortunate that a woman who has worked so hard for 30 years to start and run a successful business is now being asked to give it up to a big developer so that Palm Springs can have a 10 story monstrosity added to the local architecture. I have watched the city council meetings on local television. They're a joke. Oden is the worst mayor the city has ever had and is clearly pro-developer and doesn't give a whit about how much traffic and congestion these "wonderful" new hotels, etc. will cause. The city council is nothing but a rubber stamp for the developers who come into this area from somewhere else wanting to make a buck and selling it as "investing in Palm Springs' future". Palm Springs was fine the way it was 20 years ago. I am convinced that Oden and the council won't be happy until Palm Springs is another Vegas or San Fernando valley. What a shame!!!

-- Chuck Olmstead
Desert Hot Springs

Thank You For Your Support Mike!

Lois;

I read with great interest, the story in today's Desert Sun. Just to let you know, I will do whatever you would like me to do to help you and your family with the fight against the City of Palm Springs.

What they are attempting to do is deplorable.  Your family has given so much for so long to the City of Palm Springs that they should not even think of attempting to take the property from your family.

Call me with what you would like me to do to help.

Mike

Desert Sun Article

Click here to read the Desert Sun article that appeared today on the front page. I thought Stefanie Frith did a great job with this article.

I encourage your comments and send my blog link to everyone you know.

-Lois Anderson

I’m Standing in the Way of Progress?

I believe the City has plenty of projects they can see through Council to help our city “progress” like the Fashion Plaza & the proposed development on the corner of Ramon & Palm Canyon, both of which I support.

They can also build the Hard Rock on the 8 acres around my building if they would like to.  

Click on the photo below to show ( in orange ) the relatively small parcel we own compared to the overall 8 acres.

THANK YOU EARL! For your SUPPORT

Dear Mr. Ron Olden, Mayor of Palm Springs and City Council:

I wish that you join me in being opposed to the city's attempt to acquire the land at 700 Tahquitz Avenue by "eminent domain" against the stated wishes of the owner of this private property. You well know that the idea of eminent domain was to secure property for PUBLIC use (roads, schools, etc). You also know that the said property has housed for many years an ongoing profitable business establishment in Palm Springs of which we all are proud.

Over the past years there has been a public backlash at those politicians who expand the idea of "public use."

On July 4th of this year Mike Wallace in "60 Minutes" exposed this national problem. Reviewing this would be educational for sure.

On June 23rd of this year President George Bush issued an executive order about eminent domain saying "... it may not be used for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken."

I'm sure that sensible negotiations and compromise will find alternative solutions so that the City of Palm Springs won't violate the moral trust of its citizens in this regard!

Sincerely yours,

Earl I. Semones, MD - Palm Springs, CA 92262