A point to ponder...
"Buy land, they don't make it anymore." - Will Rogers
posted by J. L. Kunkle at
Thursday, June 30, 2005
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I have created this blog as a place for all Murrietans to post facts and opinions concerning the city and the people of Murrieta, California. Please keep your comments well thought out and civil. The opinions expressed in this blog come from independent sources throughout the community and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management.
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10 Comments:
They sure don't make it the way they used to, Will. Now it comes with an automatic option in favor of City Hall.
JLM
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, June 30, 2005 6:38:00 PM
Good Lord, people. Sandra O'Conner has just announced retirement from the Supreme Court. She was the strongest voice of reason against the recent eminent domain ruling on the court. We are now faced with an even greater chance of the "for the masses" approach to government and property rights as advocated by the likes of Ruth Bader Ginzberg and certain members of our city council. When faced with a choice between the choice of tax benefits for "the masses" they, and all their "out" and "closet" socialist friends will rationalize their way around your property rights any day of the week. This is very, very serious business. Don't believe the presently convenient denials of certain council members. Just watch for the "for the masses" kind of language, which is the cover they will use for committing atrocities against your property rights.
By
Anonymous, at Friday, July 01, 2005 8:41:00 AM
I am the last person who would defend any government if it were trying to take a person’s home or land without very good cause and compensation, but I have to say there’s a lot of panic going on in this forum.
People are shouting “fire” when a match has not even been struck. I’ll add my voice loud and clear to those who protest the taking of land for business purposes if and when it happens.
Until then this eminent domain for developers dispute is a tempest in a teapot, and this forum is the teapot.
Tom Suttle
By
Anonymous, at Friday, July 01, 2005 10:28:00 AM
Mr. Suttle:
This teapot is not the only one. The same discussion is going on across our nation as a result of the Supreme decision. The real estate community is becoming divided on this issue right now between the development interests and the smaller, private investment interests. I agree there is some nonbeneficial panic going on, but there may be more justification to the feelings of apprehension than any of us can see yet. I empahasize the "yet". This situation is going to take years to play out, but that does not warm up the chilling effect that is already setting in among smaller would-be property investors. There is a certain amount of perception in the public that the Murrieta city council has a public-be-damned attitude when it comes to the individual private land owner. I'm not saying that perception is right. I'm just saying it is there, it is real, and it has persisted beyond the recall election. Everyone out there can ridicule my concerns if they want to, but I have already seen evidence. And of course it can't be seen in land prices yet. Real estate pricing changes slowly as compared to the stock market. But I can tell you without any doubt that the reputation Murrieta now has with regard to the rights of average property owning citizens is a reputation that is very, very bad. And I want to add that the creative but delusional idea that someone came up with in this blogsite that I am trying to drive Murrieta land prices down so I can buy some myself is nothing short of goofy.
JLM
By
Anonymous, at Friday, July 01, 2005 12:18:00 PM
Thanks to the person who quoted Will Rogers. As a child I was "introduced" to this wonderful man when I visited the "Will Rogers Shrine" in Colorado, and I have since learned much about his good humor and wisdom which helped guide a whole generation. There are many web sites which are devoted to his memory, and they can be easily found in the various search engines. I hope everyone will take the time to visit one of those sites, and ponder what he was all about. Thank you.
"Just Visiting"
By
Anonymous, at Friday, July 01, 2005 12:42:00 PM
Just curious if the Rescue Murrieta group would have a problem if the city seized privately held land zoned for commercial use and made it into a park. I believe this is what some of the RMers who live over by Clinton Keith and Cal Oaks wanted done with that corner.
By
Anonymous, at Tuesday, July 05, 2005 6:35:00 PM
As in all political groups, some RM types are just out for what suits the community, without giving a hoot about the private property owner. If the city and property owner can come to a price agreement, then the price is fair. Otherwise, the property owner should have the right to wait and sell to a real buyer. Only a willing buyer and a willing seller can come to an agreement which is truly fair market value. No doubt the Supreme Court (given the recent ruling) would disagree with this view.
By
Anonymous, at Tuesday, July 05, 2005 9:31:00 PM
Thank you, 9:31. Well said. I'd like to add that the community is comprised of individual property owners, and when you start undermining individual property rights, the natural result is an undermining of the community as a whole. Governments so often fail to recognize this fundamental fact, because it is conveniently easy to ignore; but in the long run such ignorance is very costly and destructive. When individual rights are hedged, the community as a whole ultimately pays a heavy price.
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, July 06, 2005 8:25:00 AM
Good discussion! I have to jump in and repeat what I've been saying all along.
When a city council has the reputation of "heck with the little land owner in favor of the big guy", the investment pool of little guys starts to dry up. No one wants to get stuck with land the city covets (especially cities with bad reputations for dealing with land owners) even if they are coveting only the tax revenues that could be generated by larger corporate owners of that land. In such situations, the individual land owner is seen as, and feels like, nothing more than an obstacle to fulfillment of the city's desires.
Government vs. Land Owner is an uncomfortable thought for many potential small investors. Many potential buyers start looking to friendlier civic environments. The law of supply and demand kicks in, and the market slows down (even if brisk, still very slow relative to what it would otherwise be).
Small and intermediate investors are vital links in the land value chain.
Even if commercial land prices in Murrieta are around $23 per foot, and that's higher than recent years, they're still not where they should be and would be if the city council had the reputation of strongly supporting the rights of individual property owners.
Perception is very important when any kind of investment activity is at stake. The way Murrieta city government is percieved by the land development community is much different than the way it is perceived by the small to intermediate land investment community.
I'm not saying any of this because I like it. Just the opposite. I'm saying it because I see it in the real world of real estate investment. It's a frustrating drag on prices and investment activity, and I hope something can be done to change the way the intermediate land investor views the Murrieta city government.
Such a change would require a sincere effort by city hall. To fully realize proper levels of property value in this town, Murrieta needs to prove itself as a city that respects property rights. Of course, to make such an effort city hall would have to actually care about this matter.
JLM
By
Anonymous, at Wednesday, July 06, 2005 9:38:00 AM
JLM The City Council members attitiudes and positions concerning property rights will be the main issue when I decide who to vote for in next year's election. I want council members that will back policies that maximize property valuations in Murrieta. I also believe that everyones property rights must be protected. I own some properties here in town and this issue hits close to home.
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, July 07, 2005 9:45:00 AM
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