EDITORIAL: EMINENT WIN
Homeowners, students both will benefit
OUR VIEW: We always knew there was a way to make both sides happy
Article Launched:10/30/2006 12:00:00 AM PST
Hooray for Ellen Disparte, the 84-year-old Redlands woman who put a face on the emiment-domain issue and won the right to stay in her home. And hooray for Redlands students, who now will have a third high school.
The year-long legal battle that resulted in the octogenarian selling her 9.5-acre farm to the school district, as long as she could remain in the home she had known all her life, shows there are common-sense solutions that let both sides win, as long as the human element isn't forgotten.
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Though Disparte understood the need for a new school, she also needed her home. When the school district started eminent-domain proceedings Sept. 2, 2005, offering her more than $2 million, Disparte dug in, and held her ground.
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With a hearing set for Nov. 17, Disparte agreed last week to a settlement, which gives her $3.43 million for her land, and lets her stay in her home on two acres, for $1 a year. Meanwhile, the school will spring up around her - giving both sides what they want, and keeping everyone happy.
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Still, eminent domain might have been used to better advantage, with Citrus Valley High School opening sooner, had respect and compassion for other people's property been kept in the forefront.
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Gramps says:
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After a long drawn out no doubt stressful negotiation there seems to be an acceptable resolution. Emiment Domain for the use of building such things as schools is what I think it was intended. *
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HOWEVER, respecting our Elders is also an important, the agreement works. I think the planned use of the property as a parking lot is not its best and highest use. Perhaps the School District will rethink that when the time comes. A working 2 ac farm and hands on Agri Science Lab would be something that no other high school in the region has. Many of our Sciences, and Industries have their foundation in farming, and removing this uniqe opportunity of having a hands on practical application of these skills potentially giving the students what is most missing in their educational experience, a reason to learn, and application of the knowledge.
