Missouri Citizens for Property Rights seeks to restore constitutional protection against private use eminent domain.

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Missouri Citizens for
Property Rights
33867 Highway E
Dixon, MO 65459
(573) 759-3585
info@mo-cpr.org

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"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." - Thomas Jefferson

 

 

Endorsements

The Heritage Foundation
“I endorse the worthy and valuable principals of the Missouri Citizens for Property Rights' proposed constitutional amendment to better protect property rights, and I support the enactment of any proposal like it that prevents abuses of traditional eminent domain powers and provides safeguards against the confiscation of private property for other private uses.” -Todd Gaziano, Director, Center for Legal and Judicial Studies The Heritage Foundation

Property Rights Alliance
“Property Rights Alliance (PRA) commends Missouri Citizens for Property Rights for their efforts to protect private property in the state of Missouri. With the threat of eminent domain abuse looming at the state and national level, it is imperative that organizations and activists work together to protect property owners and small business enterprises from government’s grasp. PRA applauds the work of Missouri Citizens for Property Rights and supports its continued efforts to protect the Missourian property owner.” -Scott A. LaGanga, Executive Director of Property Rights Alliance (PRA)

Reason Foundation
“I have looked at a lot of legislation and efforts around the country to limit eminent domain abuse. Most of them are laudable. But the effort of Missouri Citizens for Property Rights stands out from the crowd. Not only are they meticulous about changing the law to confine eminent domain to true public uses, they put real effort into discussing alternatives to eminent domain for cities dealing with blight and economic development challenges. I am impressed by how they combine a hard line on property rights with an effort to address the public policy consequences.“ Dr. Adrian Moore, Vice President, Reason Foundation (Blog)

American Policy Center
“The threat to private property is real. Since the Supreme Court's ruling in Kelo VS New London, no home is secure. As the battle rages across the country, two approaches have emerged: those who try to appease, consequently doing little for property owner's protection -- and those who are serious about protecting private property from the ravages of Eminent Domain. The effort by the Missouri Citizens for Property Rights takes the no-compromising stand and gets it right.” Tom DeWeese, President, American Policy Center

The Rutherford Institute
"I commend the Missouri Citizens for Property Rights in their work to protect the rights of private property owners. This is essential legislation and should be used in other states to ensure that what happened in Connecticut by way of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision does not happen again."--John W. Whitehead, President, The Rutherford Institute

The Claremont Institute
“Our government officials seem to have lost their way. The primary purpose of government is supposed to be the protection of the inalienable rights of its citizens, including the right to own property, yet all too frequently planning department bureaucrats, with the sanction of both elected officials and courts, view their role as implementing some communitarian ideal, trampling individual rights for what these bureaucrats believe to be the common good. I therefore applaud the efforts of Missouri Citizens for Property Rights to reinvigorate the protection of private property that the Missouri Constitution has historically afforded, amending the constitution to forestall erroneous interpretations of the long-standing provisions. The restoration of property rights as one of our fundamental rights, deserving protection against tyrannical majorities for all but the most compelling of public use reasons, is an important battle, and I wish you much success.” - John Eastman, Director, The Claremont Institute Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence and Professor of Law, Chapman University School of Law

Missouri Property Rights -

Defenders of Property Rights-
“Defenders of Property Rights applauds the Missouri Citizens for Property Rights for their effort to restore the traditional, constitutional principles of property rights in the state of Missouri. Considering the recent tragic results of eminent domain abuse, it is essential that organization’s collaborative efforts work towards returning eminent domain to its appropriate use and prevent private property owners from more unjust takings. Defenders of Property Rights commends the determination of Missouri Citizens for Property Rights in defending property rights and will continue to support their efforts to minimize the victimization of Missourian private property owners as a result of eminent domain abuse.” – Nancie Marzulla, President, Defenders of Property Rights

MEDAC (Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse – Coalition)

Concerned Citizens for Family Farms and Heritage, Doug McDaniel President-

The O’Fallon Old Town Preservation Committee
“The O’Fallon Old Town Preservation Committee is proud to endorse the Missouri Constitutional Amendments proposed by the Missouri Citizens for Property Rights.”

New Life Evangelistic Center

Concerned Women for America

 

-- Homer and Julie Tourkakis --

Fighting to keep their business in Arnold, MO
Dr. Homer Tourkakis has been practicing dentristy at a prime location he purchased over 22 years ago. Now a big developer wants his property for a retail shopping center and they have co-opted the City of Arnold's eminent domain powers in an attempt to take it.

Homer Tourkakis

 

I set out on my journey in dentistry just wanting to make an honest living for myself and my family. My wife, Julie, is a registered dental hygienist, and we put down roots in Arnold in 1985. Over the last 22 years, we’ve developed a loyal patient base from across Jefferson County and made a lot of good friends. But in 2004, my life was turned upside down when the city of Arnold unveiled a plan to “redevelop” the Arnold Triangle, a geographic area that includes my dental practice. The plan envisioned 250,000 square feet of retail space, a Dierbergs Market and a Lowe’s store.

Since then, I’ve been shocked to learn just how few rights property owners have if their city government decides they have a better use for your property.

There was never any discussion about working around my existing business. The developer made me one lowball offer in August 2004 and then the City condemned my property. Even as property values soared, the city did not increase their offer, nor did they make any attempt to determine my actual relocation costs.

I have no objection to development, but I feel it’s wrong to take my property for the benefit of another private party. Over the last three years, I have spent a vast part of my life and a whole lot of money fighting for my constitutional right to keep my property. I would not wish this on anyone. This process is a travesty of justice and needs to be stopped. I don’t take kindly to the idea of having my hard work and property taken away. I could not reproduce what I have here anywhere else. I have a prime location and it has been excellent for my business. But city officials don’t care—they’re too fixated on the increased sales tax revenues the new retail establishments will bring in.

- by Dr. Homer Tourkakis

In May of 2007, Dr. Tourkakis won his case in circuit court. The judge ruled that the City of Arnold does not have the power of eminent domain for the clearance of blight, as a third class city. However, the city appealed, and Dr. Tourkakis' case was heard before the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri on January 17, 2008. A decision is pending.