Property rights must come first

Editorials

October 30, 2009

By Rowe Ray The San Marcos Record Fri Oct 30, 2009, 10:15 AM CDT

Loop roadway projects have always been tough, but they’re even tougher now.

The need for a loop around San Marcos, both east and west, is certainly obvious. The private property issues such concepts create, however, can make these monsters pretty ugly.

It’s a delicate balancing act in which the public need and private rights butt heads.

There is often no clear right or wrong answer to these confrontations.

It seems, however, that the way these projects are planned, the amount of public notice given and the avoidance of heavy-handed tactics can go a long way toward creating some common ground for these roadways.

Still, despite the legalities which allow private lands to be forcefully “purchased” for some of these projects, private property rights should get top priority.

The ownership of property is an important and basic American right which all too often these days gets tossed aside in the name of progress.

Such actions should be the rare exception and not the rule of thumb when public project planners start building up a head of steam. RHR

Text Only

Editorials

The benefits are life saving
As Central Texas Medical Center’s annual HealthCheck screening nears, it’s a good time to consider the true benefits of such an event.

February 2, 2012
Water watching must begin now
January 22, 2012
Make auction day a pay day
January 15, 2012
Home run for San Marcos
January 11, 2012
A century-long partnership
We here at the Record hope many members of the San Marcos community will join us as we celebrate our 100th year of service to San Marcos.

January 2, 2012
Redistricting dance painful
December 21, 2011
Let’s do it right
December 18, 2011
Down but not out
December 18, 2011
It makes ‘cents’
A story on page 3A of today’s edition of the Record tells of a contest which, if the votes go well, could mean $10,000 for math education in San Marcos.

December 11, 2011
Still magical
Before the dust – or perhaps mud would be a better word in this case – settles on the Sights & Sounds of Christmas celebration, some well-deserved kudos must be offered.

December 11, 2011
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

Property rights must come first

Site Map

Contact Us