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03/29/2023 08:00 AM

We Must Not Let Them


Last week a bill in Hartford (HB 5917) co-sponsored by Guilford-based State Senator Christine Cohen, head of the State Transportation Committee, included language that would have given the commissioner the power to “take any land the commissioner finds necessary” for “bicycle lanes or multi-use trails.”

In other words, eminent domain could be legally used to acquire private property for a bike lane against the owner’s will.

Fortunately for Guilford, this language was deleted from the bill that moved forward. But by no means are we safe from the threat.

One of the most adamant supporters of HB 5917 was R. Bruce Donald, manager of the East Coast Greenway Alliance: “…the general statutes MUST be augmented to include language that allows DCDOT the right to acquire land for any bicycle lane or multi-use-trail” (emphasis in original). In other words, the Shoreline Greenway Trail (SGT) is back, taking cover behind its parent organization.

Carol Platt Liebau, president of the Yankee Institute, eloquently laid out the fundamental problems with the proposed statute: “The bill demonstrates no public need to take private property. These bike paths are for the recreational use of a single group: cyclists…Abusing eminent domain to favor elite groups” and giving “unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats the power to seize private property for the exclusive use of cyclists is wrong. People must know their individual property rights are protected here in Connecticut.”

Having been soundly defeated by Guilford residents who argued their case to the Board of Selectmen, who voted no on the SGT plans for Guilford in early 2017, it appears that SGT now wants to use the State’s power of eminent domain to bypass the decisions of our local government and the will of the people. We must not let them.

Are you listening, Senator Cohen?

Patricia Klindienst

Guilford