An appeals court ruled that Columbia University can't use eminent domain to grab property it wants for its expansion just by calling its neighborhood "blighted." The judges pointed out: Columbia is so freaking shady.
First, the only reason to declare the neighborhood "blighted" would be to hand it over to the school:
And second, shut up, Columbia:
So, you're saying Columbia is Casey Johnson?
FUCKING YES. Long time coming. As one of your alums, I say "Suck it, Columbia." A liberal arts university with an eight billion dollar endowment should not be shitting on poor people so that it can take their houses.
@Perhaps Not: Did your alma mater ever teach you how to look shit up before you opine on it? They've bought out everyone in the development area - recently at well-above-market rates - except for one family that owns two gas stations there and says they won't sell them "for any price", and one asshole who owns a storage facility, is a bit of a slumlord himself and seems to be doing this as much for the publicity as anything else. No poor people's houses would be shat on by this taking, as hard as that may be to fit into your social model.
Um, so what? It's their property. Why should they sell? The court has not agreed that there is public purpose compelling them to do so, as Columbia asserted.
And, Columbia did not pay above market rates for anything. By definition, they paid the market rate — that is, the price someone was willing to pay.
This is fantastic.
Lovely; now wait for this to be overturned on appeal. This goes squarely against both Kelo and the Court of Appeals' ruling last week in the Atlantic Yards case. Some judges really like making statements.
