Citgo, Corzine, Conservation and Kelo: The Petty Island Story
This story was mentioned on a Rush trailer this morning. Citgo wants to donate its 360-acre Petty Island in the Delaware River to New Jersey as a nature preserve. New Jersey doesn't want it donated for a preserve: they seem to want to either force a sale or to take it - Kelo-ize it - for private development projects. Current Democratic Senator John Corzine, the fabulously wealthy ex-Wall Street mogul, now running for Governor, supports the latter plan, and thus alienated environmentalists. And Corzine's support of yet another massive development project in the Jersey Meadowlands has gotten him into further trouble. I guess birds don't pay taxes. Sierra Activist has a photo gallery of Petty Island. Eagles do winter on the island, but I think there are principles at stake here that are even more important than eagles - and we love eagles along with all living critters. We have posted, and quoted, various views on Kelo on this blog. To what extent does the Kelo decision make it easier for NJ to take the island via eminent domain rather than to accept it as a gifted nature preserve? Lawyers - please tell me the answer.
It's about time this story makes the NYT - but will it? Or will they decide to protect Corzine? The NYT sure did love Kelo, which, they gushed, "strikes a blow at the property rights movement". And yes, as you have surely realized, Maggie's is a highly pro-conservation blog, but we are far from greenie-wackos. (And, by the way, the Republican candidate, Forester, is in favor of accepting the gift.)
(Photo courtesy of P. LaTourette - his photo link to the left)
