Armen Yousoufian's Blog

After 30 years in business/investment real estate, I added "citizen activist" to my resume in 1997 when I requested sports stadium documents of King County Executive Ron Sims. After being "stonewalled", I sued, winning more at every stage, up to the state Supreme Court. Documents disgorged by Sims (after 4 years denying they existed!) revealed rigged studies. Sims misled the public on the stadiums. Other issues found me (e.g. Critical Areas Ordinance). Google “Armen Yousoufian” for more.

About Me

Name:
Location: Vashon, Washington, United States

I was born and raised in New York City. I took classical violin lessons for 10 years and studied astronomy. I built telescopes, grinding the mirrors from scratch. I was a nerd! I considered a career in classical violin but chose astrophysics. I majored in Physics at Rutgers University for 2 years, then switched and graduated in mechanical engineering. I moved to Seattle in 1969 to work on missiles for Boeing, got an MBA from Seattle University, and became a business and real estate entrepreneur for over 30 years. In 1997 I became involved in open government activism when I asked King County Executive Ron Sims for sports stadium documents. I was stonewalled. I sued under the Open Records, or Public Disclosure, Act. I won the case in King County Superior Court, but still didn’t get all the documents, nor recovered my legal fees, which the law said I was entitled to be reimbursed. I appealed and won more in the Court of Appeals and the court of public opinion. But I still didn’t get all the documents! I appealed again and won yet more in the Washington State Supreme Court. But I still don’t have all the documents! While that fight goes on I have become involved in new issues.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Eminent domain case of Kelo vs. New London

By now, many of you must know about last Thursday's stunningly disappointing decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Kelo versus New London. Based on the outcome in this case, government is now free to take private property by eminent domain, then convey it to another private person or company to be developed to a use that offers the prospect of creating jobs, greater tax revenues, etc. The former concept of private property being taken for such things as a road, school, sewer treatment plan, etc. has been expanded to the limit of one's imagination. Now, politicians connected to influential developers can go after anyone's private property. The impact of this decision on our most fundamental freedoms and rights in the U.S., done to us by five Supreme Court justices, cannot be understated. The below is fyi.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Elizabeth Moser [mailto:emoser@ij.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 1:23 PM
To: Elizabeth Moser
Subject: New London Rally & Hands Off My Home!
Importance: High


Friends,

Less than a week ago, the Supreme Court struck a blow against the rights of all Americans in Kelo v. New London. In response, the court of public opinion has spoken loud and clear that the right to hold on to one's home or business is sacred to the American people and the fight will continue. We couldn't agree more. The Institute for Justice is committed to ending eminent domain abuse, and we need your help!

CAMPAIGN: Tomorrow, we will announce a major national effort to combat eminent domain abuse at the local, state and national level. Through IJ’s Castle Coalition - a nationwide network of citizen activists determined to stop the abuse of eminent domain in their communities - IJ’s “Hands Off My Home” campaign will give ordinary citizens a voice, and the means to protect their homes from government-forced takings for private development. We’re holding a press conference at 10 AM tomorrow at the National Press Club to announce the campaign, and we've added a special phone line so our friends across the country can listen in. To do so, call (800) 633-8680 tomorrow at 10 AM EDT. IJ Senior Attorneys Scott Bullock and Dana Berliner will explain IJ's plans to continue the fight to preserve property rights. Tomorrow, we'll send you more information on how YOU can help defend the rights of everyone in your state. In the meantime, continue to check www.castlecoalition.org for ideas and insight on protecting your home, church and small business.

NEW LONDON RALLY: On July 5th, New London will hold a city council meeting and we are coordinating a rally beforehand to ask city council to save the homes of Susette Kelo and the New London residents. If you are anywhere near Connecticut, we hope you'll join us and voice your support for the homeowners and property rights. The rally will be held at 6pm at New London City Hall, 181 State Street, New London, CT. By saving these homes, we can show the country that, regardless of what the Supreme Court says, eminent domain abuse is wrong. For more information, contact us (see below).

NATIONAL PROTEST: To show solidarity with other property owners around the country, we’re suggesting folks do something simple on the Fourth of July as well - fly a Gadsden ("Don't Tread on Me") flag, post a sign (e.g., “Hands Off My Home,” “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “Develop, Don’t Destroy”) in your window or join your local Independence Day celebration, or anything else you think would work, making sure to highlight the abuse of eminent domain. We can provide some materials, but homemade signs are the best. Again, contact us for more information.

Thank you for all the op-eds, letters to the editor, and support you've offered over the last week. Keep it up! Together, we will win the battle to defend property rights.

Best wishes,
Steven Anderson
Castle Coalition Director
sanderson@ij.org

Elizabeth Moser
Outreach Coordinator
emoser@ij.org

Institute for Justice
1717 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
202-955-1300
fax 202-955-1329
Litigating for Liberty: www.IJ.org

posted by Armen Yousoufian | 9:47 PM

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