A petition drive for a state constitutional amendment to limit governments from taking private property kicked off Sunday at a National Western Stock Show booth.
Colorado Citizens for Property Rights aims to collect 100,000 signatures by June 4 to get the issue on the November ballot. On the stock show’s first day, 600 voters signed the petition.
“There will be more than 750,000 people coming through here during the stock show, and it’s the best place to kick it off,” said Marsha Looper, executive director of the property rights group. “There are a lot of people here who have been on their land for several generations and want to protect their land.”
Looper said the proposal would block “land grabs” for private uses, such as “big box” retail developments or toll roads. The proposed amendment would allow acquisition of property by eminent domain if the property is occupied by a public entity or a public utility such as a highway or school.
The initiative would go against last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that expanded eminent domain for economic development, Looper said. The court ruling said states could enact stricter property rights laws.
Greg Castiglione of Highlands Ranch signed the petition, saying he’s concerned about a specific issue.
“The city of Golden is attempting to take the land for a tower that would broadcast high-definition TV (from Lookout Mountain), and if it (eminent domain) isn’t done for the public good, it’s stealing,” he said.
Backers warned politicians to pay attention to the efforts of the grassroots organization. “People and property are the name of the game in 2006, not politics,” said group member Kathy Farth.
The group plans to collect signatures throughout the state, saying there are more than 130 active or threatened eminent domain “takings” for private use statewide.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at aschrader@denverpost.com or 303-278-3217.
