Eminent Domain Report

We reported earlier this month that a referendum to ultimately decide the fate of redevelopment agencies could make its way onto California's 2012 ballot.  Eminent domain opponent Marko Mlikotin had obtained clearance to begin collecting signatures to overturn ABX1 27, the bill that allows California's redevelopment agencies to avoid extinction by paying money back to the State.  With the CRA's pending lawsuit to decide the fate of ABX1 26 and ABX1 27, Mlikotin's collection efforts have apparently been nixed. 

According to a Capitol Alert article by Torey Van Oot, "Referendum of redevelopment law shelved by opponent," Mlikotin has decided not to pursue overturning ABX1 27, and instead focus his efforts in supporting the State in its defense of the CRA lawsuit:

We have come to the conclusion that the state's case against the redevelopment agencies is very, very strong . . . .  The (organization's) can be spent much more wisely on fighting redevelopment abuse through the courts." 

In other words, Mlikotin realizes that beginning the expensive signature process may not make sense given the pending litigation.  After all, there is a chance AB1X 26 is upheld, while AB1X 27 is declared unconstitutional, which would render Mlikotin's referendum moot.