Baltimore Loses Round In Eminent Domain Efforts

The North Country Gazette reports:

BALTIMORE, MD---In a victory for open government and public oversight of eminent domain proceedings for so-called economic development, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the papers and meetings of the Baltimore Development Corporation must be open to the public. This decision means that the City of Baltimore's ongoing plans to condemn and transfer large portions of the city for private development will be subject to public scrutiny and oversight. The case is especially important because quasi-public organizations nationwide, like the BDC, wield government power with no accountability to the public. This ruling at last opens these organizations' records to the public.

A small step towards accountability.Eat your heart out Enron.