From Libertarian Wiki

Regarding the planned Eminent Domain Protest in Albany (NY)

Friday, April 28: an Eminent Domain rally in Albany.

New Location Suggestion: start with a rally with speakers from noon to 3pm at in front of the Capitol building, at the top of the lower section of State Street. Then, march down to the Empire State Development Corp's offices at 30 S. Pearl Street, picketing their office until their employees head home.

http://ny.lp.org/Capital/april-28.gif

http://ny.lp.org/Capital/30-s-pearl.gif 30 South Pearl Street

Also see: Capitol tour http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/Tour/

The Google View that produced those pictures: http://www.google.com/local?f=l&hl=en&q=&near=30+S+Pearl+street,+Albany,+NY+12245&ll=42.649025,-73.753077&spn=0.001543,0.003846&t=h

"We want to bring together Libertarians, property rights advocates, eminent domain victims, good-government folks, and anti-Kelo advocates." -- John Clifton, LPNY Chair

Below are excerpts from the discussion on the lpny_committee list, plus Bonnie's comments. It's a long, initial planning document that I hope people will help us with, on the "activism" list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpny

Considerations (from questions posted by Richard Cooper)

1) Whether to have it at all.

I'll assume yes for now, as we explore the possibilities

2) Where to have it exactly? 3) When to have it.

Those two go together. My suggestion (based on others' suggestions) is in front of the Empire State Development Corporation's HQ at 30 Pearl St., noon-3pm Friday afternoon, April 28, 2006.

Alternative time: Sunday, April 30th in the morning about 9:30 or 10am. I don't know where we'd do it, in that case. Tuesdays are the "lobbying day" in Albany, but that won't work for us as well.

Friday versus Sunday:

John: Holding it that afternoon 12:00-3:00 pm would give people a chance to commute there that morning from around New York, make the Albany news by that evening, and perhaps get airtime for our prospective candidates. After the rally, LP members could head straight for the hotel to check-in, unwind and hold the Friday evening reception.

Richard: By having it on Sunday, [participants] would not lose a day's work or school... More people read daily newspapers on Monday than on Saturday. On the other hand, getting those who cover the state legislature and government to give up a weekend day to cover us might be expecting for a lot. However, the most important thing is whether the Associated Press takes note of it or not because their report is what both print and broadcast media rely upon the most.

4) Logistics a) Police permits and restrictions. Certain areas may not be allowed for security and safety reasons. Where? Werner? b) Restrictions on microphones and megaphones c) Road directions and proximity to the bus and trains

       --> these all depend on location selection, which needs
               to be firmed up quickly in order to be successful

d) How big a rally do we hope to have? How many people can we realistically expect? Ask the county leaders to poll their members. The bigger the space we have it in the worse a small turnout looks. e) Do we want other groups to participate? Who? Under what conditions? Might we be upstaged?

--> I say we need to go for allies to get the numbers. I think that part of the purpose should be to improve our name recognition and reputation among these other allied groups, and this will help do it, if we can pull it off. See separate section.

f) How long an event? Will it be a silent picket or an event with speeches? What about music? Will it be march? A combination of these?

My suggestion is a sign-waving protest in front of the ESDC, with speakers if we can get the sound permits, which **should** be possible this far ahead of time.

Do we have anyone with appropriate music to play? (I play guitar and violin, but have been writing and playing anti-war tunes, not eminent domain ones!) The well-known land-related songs aren't libertarian, like "This Land is Your Land" and "The World Turned Upside Down." (You can Google them.) We can discuss the musical possibilities on this list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/liberty_and_music/

g) How will we promote to our people?

• FreeNY
• emails
• website
• Phone calls and postcards to Capital-area members and inquiries
• at an Albany-area convention a bit before the state convention?

Note: emails announcing *tentative* date and plans are already going out weekly to lpny@yahoogroups.com, the activists list, as of this week. We can use the "activism" list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpny to help plan this event.

h) Will we produce signs? Will we produce literature?

Yes, yes. Volunteers needed ASAP. Perhap some kind of play on the recently-popularized acronym "ED" and "Prevent ED!"

i) Will we charter buses to bring people from other parts of the state? Or from the Best Western?

I think from Brooklyn would be the best shot, if someone can develop interest among some of the "Develop Don't Destroy" folks. Other suggestions? Maybe a second one coming from Western NY, if we can get FreeBuffalo interest, and then have it make a few stops along the way.

j) What will all this cost?

Depends on the scope of the plans. Some for the busses, a few hundred dollars for signs for the rally. Maybe money for a button machine for the Capital Chapter to make pins for everyone to wear. (In exchange for donations?) Plus: press release and advertising in Albany the week of the event, and copies of flyers to post at campuses and around Albany during April.

Allies to invite to attend and help organize contingents

(We need several months' lead time to have our allies get the word out to their members.

Emails and phone numbers have been left out of the Wiki version unless it's known that the person doesn't mind them being published.)

• Property Rights for America (a NY-based group)

Carol LaGrasse

• Institute for Justice http://ij.org/

We can look through their New York Eminent Domain report http://www.castlecoalition.org/report/pdf/states/new_york.pdf for affected people to contact, as well as contacting them directly.

• We The People Foundation For Constitutional Education

http://givemeliberty.org/ Bob Schulz has a wide network of activists who would be interested in this.

• We the People Coalition (a minor-party coalition)

Join their NY list here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WeThePeopleCoalition_NewYork Bonnie posted a note 11/16 about the rally to there, and the chair of NY's Constitution Party replied "Sounds good to me."

• Western Massachussets and Vermont libertarians and property-rights

groups. (Bonnie can help contact and follow up with LPMA, VTLP, CPR/POST, et al. It's already been posted to the masslp list.)

• The folks from the St. Luke's seizure.

Richard Cooper spoke with Bishop Jenkins. They cannot commit as their schedule is drawn up in January.

• New Rochelle folks? Bruce Merbaum had the closest ties, but I'm

not sure that WRAIN (the organizing group) is still active--it was in 2000. Bonnie has the Y2K-era emails of Chris Bourdain and Scott Stefan, two of their organizers, but isn't sure they won't bounce or that they will be interested.

• Brooklyn anti-ED folks.

a) Gary Popkin wrote: I would help to advertise an Albany rally amongst the anti-Ratner crowd. (Brooklyn--"Develop Don't Destroy" and others)

b) Bonnie sent a note to Mitch Cohen of the Brooklyn Greens, who helped organize a walk-a-thon against the Ratner project--asking if they'd be interested in the Albany protest, especially if there were busses. Response rec'd 11/16/05: "I think this is a great next step! I worry that there will be major antiwar demos on that date, but not sure ....Anyway, let's keep in touch and I'll circulate this idea to others."

• Free State Project members.

Can Brian Sullivan help get the word out to them? They have a good network of activists that doesn't totally overlap with our own.

Someone wrote: "the issue of this actually affecting the legislators is valid." Hmmm. We know from the Free State Project's actions how it can be made really personal. Perhaps someone can file for a seizing of Markowitz's and Ratner's personal homesteads? Or someone in NY State gov't who is really pro-ED. Just for kicks, of course.

• Business Council of NY -- are they on our side on this?

They don't seem to make a big deal about ED on their sites. (I checked bcsny.org, upstateblog.net quickly.) They were a good help on the Stop the Pork tour, so it would be great to have their participation on this, too.

• the FreeBuffalo group (James Ostrowski)

http://www.freebuffalo.org/

• Dave Doctor, who led a protest against a plan to use

eminent domain in the Far West Village. freedom@davedoctor.com

• former board members Rob Robinson and Jen Rog have extensive

experience organizing rallies. We should see if they are able/ interested in helping us with this issue. rob@damnsam.com, jen@damnsam.com

• College students in the area: let's start with our contacts in

the area, and let's flyer the Albany-area campuses all through April to attract people to the rally.

• Reason Foundation -- I think I just heard they were doing something

in the ED area, but can't find it now. http://reason.org/eminentdomain/

• The few friendly mainstream politicians

Weld? Richard writes: Governor Weld, by the way, has a real hatred of eminent domain going back to family history, according to newspaper articles I read. He even wrote a published novel where eminent domain for a dam sets the scene for the plot.

Bonnie asks: Any chance he would appear to speak? Let's get organized and the support of some allies first, then ask him OR a member of his family to speak about their personal experience. That would guarantee us media, but we'd have to have our signs EVERYWHERE and really hustle to get ourselves mentioned for this, in his shadow. Do-able, I think, if we're serious and start now.

NYC Councilmember Trish James, who has local legislation proposed on eminent domain.

North County Assemblyman Chris Ortloff, who has said that Kelo was the worst decision from the Supreme Court.

- end of "allies" section -

LPNY Chair Checklist (1/9):

(This is from my general article announcing the rally)---John

Co-organizers: I have asked Gary Popkin (Brooklyn, please get well) and John Procida (Queens) to assist in building up turnout for the rally, but others are welcome to join in. Others with large-event organizing experience are especially wanted. My contact for this effort is my mrjclifton@yahoo.com

Capitol Set-up: I need somebody in Albany (Werner, Jeff, Bill?) to find out about securing the permits and other logisitics for putting on the rally. Are there other prohibitions or limitations? Are there road access limitations or distractions (like construction work) at the proposed site? Are travel directions needed? Can press conferences be set-up before or on the day of the event? Can Albany media contacts be lined up for interviews, or to pitch them to cover the event? How much would it cost to run radio spots to promote the rally? Input from Capitol LP members on all these and other details would be welcome.

Media, Travel: This is envisioned as a traditional ‘sign waving, speechifying’ protest, so we need signs, slogans, literature, and even merchandise developed. If you’ve got clever ideas and writing ability, please add your resources and contact info to the wiki page above. A decision will be reached about whether LPNY can or should handle renting buses to get people to Albany for the rally from around the state, depending on how much turnout is expected.

Civic Group Recruitment: From John Procida, who came up with the rally idea: “We can win a good bill that will assure the people of New York State strong property rights. Yes it will take work but let me assure you from past experience that it is do-able. It will take going to civic association meetings and making them realize that they must participate in preventing this miscarriage of our inalienable rights of property ownership. I believe that I could get my civic association to send two bus loads of protesters to Albany (at their expense). There are about 1200 civic associations in N.Y. State. A mailing list of all those associations should be one of our first efforts. A plan based on getting civic associations and other organization's support is, in my opinion, the way to go.”

Local Affiliates: County LPs around the state should between now and March contact (or better, make personal appearances) at civic groups to talk up the rally, and to estimate interest. Counties can also work on their members for turnout purposes (“to come one day earlier to Albany” to participate in protesting EDA. Area advocacy groups concerned about the issue may also be best approached by local LP who are familiar with them, to get their representatives to attend, or to contact their email/mailing lists to publicize it.

Candidates: All people who are seeking to be nominated by LPNY to run for statewide office are invited to attend, and will get to speak to the Kelo/EDA issue at the rally. Already expected to speak are Joseph Dobrian, Jeff Russell and possibly former Massachusetts Governor William Weld (a past victim of eminent domain, who is interested in running on the LP line for Governor of New York). Candidates for State Assembly or State Senate are also welcome, but they need to contact me to reserve their podium time.

Coalition Support: I and any co-organizers will be trying to do everything else, like the general announcements (like this article) and promotional efforts, and reaching leaders/lists of other property groups, or other third parties (e.g., the Greens) to fatten out the turnout or word of mouth about this event. Securing the appearance of ‘draws’ like Weld or local Albany politicians and lobby groups will be attempted. Finally, bringing as many actual victims of Kelo-like land grabs to the protest would put a strong, concrete human touch on the harm caused by EDA. If you know of any more recent or current homeowners or residents who’ve been ‘kicked to the curb’ who want to speak out, big time, on their plight, this is their shining moment. Let’s get to work on all the above items, and rebuild momentum towards eliminating eminent domain abuse in New York!

-end checklist-

File:100px-New York state flag.png	State of New York
State Party:	LP of New York
Regional orgs:	Capital District | Hudson Valley | Ithica | Monroe County | Manhattan | Queens | Nassau County | Suffolk County
2005 campaigns:	New York City | Nassau County | Suffolk County | Brookhaven | North Tonawanda

You need to contact the County Legislators in Westchester sponsoring a great eminent domain reform bill. The sponsors are Maisano & Abinanti.