For those non-golfers out there, a Mulligan in the term given to a free 'redo' in golf. While not allowed in professional ranks, us amateurs use (beg for) them regularly. Or as Wikipedia puts it "In golf, a mulligan is a shot retaken, due to a player's poor skill or general incompetence." Keep that in mind as you read to following attempt to invoke eminent domain under the Supreme Court's Kelo decision...
A story in the AP today tells of "the single wealthiest community in the northeastern United States" considering the use of eminent domain to convert an exclusive private golf course into...a community benefiting PUBLIC GOLF COURSE! That's right, the private course in upstate New York, frequented by the likes of Matt Lauer and Bob Hope may be condemned under Kelo and converted to to the exact same use, only owned publicly, to "'increase property values' because of the cache of having a municipal golf course open to all 1,800 residents.'
Just so I'm clear here. The Village of North Hills, NY is considering condemning one of the most prestigious private goilf courses in the northeast to convert it to a public course for 1,800 residents. Now, under Kelo, the condemnation can take place if the local officials can demonstrate a benefit to local residents. The benefit here? An increase in property values on multimillion dollar homes. How is this a public benefit? It will increase property tax revenues of course. Did I mention this is "the single wealthiest community in the northeastern United States"
FORE!
