SB 18 is a good start at reforming eminent domain law, but needs improvement. We should ensure that property is taken only if necessary for a public use, and that owners can buy back property taken but not used in 10 years.
Property Rights
Matthew Bernard and Lynn Warner v. City of Oakland, California
Date Filed: June 29, 2026 Original Court: Northern District of California Case Status: Pending Matthew Bernard and Lynn Warner own an undeveloped residential plot in Oakland, California. In 2020, the Oakland Fire Department ordered them to clear dead and dying trees from their land or face ongoing fines. The landowners hired an arborist and removed...
June 29, 2026