[GPCA Updates] NEWS ADVISORY: Green Party sides with ‘Grandma's house,' and not developers re: Prop 98&99

[Green Party of California Updates]

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
  http://www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 7, 2008


Green Party State Convention delegates side
with ‘Grandma's house,' and not developers
in eminent domain duel on June ballot

BERKELEY, Ca. (April 7, 2008) – The Green Party of California – meeting
here Saturday and Sunday at its State Convention – voted to side with
homeowners and local governments to prohibit eminent domain abuse by
approving resolutions opposing Prop. 98 and supporting Prop. 99 on the June
ballot.

Greens also approved resolutions calling for bans on cloned animals and
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and the support of "Green Chemistry"
to help the environment.

Delegates to the convention, held at UC Berkeley,  agreed by consensus that
the expansion of eminent domain – normally reserved for "public uses" that
include such things parks,  schools and roads – to now include seizing
homes for transfer to a developer is an abuse of eminent domain.

"We oppose Prop. 98 because it has hidden agendas that threaten local land
use planning and environmental  protections and was deliberately crafted to
challenge affordable housing  policies, including the elimination of rent
control and eviction protections.," said Alameda Green Lisa Stephens, a
member of the Berkeley Rent Board.

Conversely, in support of Prop. 99, Greens said it is a real eminent domain
reform measure intended to constitutionally protect homeowners without the
hidden agendas and adverse consequences of Prop. 98.

"Prop. 99 will prohibit government from using eminent domain to take a home
   to transfer to a private developer. It is an alternative for homeowners,
environmentalists, labor, cities and counties, and will prevent ‘Grandma's
house' from being razed to build condos or a Wal-Mart parking lot," said
Stephens.

The GPCA also called for warning labels on products using GMOs or cloned
animals, and wants to require the USDA to alert counties, and neighboring
farmers if GMOs are being used in their areas. Greens would also require
the source biotechnology corporation be legally accountable for any
"genetic pollution." A new plank approved by the GPCA would deal with
"Green Chemistry," which is the design and use of "chemicals, processes and
products that are safer for human and environmental health (to prevent)
hazardous exposures."