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Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights

Restoring Private Property Rights Since 2003

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Is it fair to spend gas-tax dollars on mass transit that few use in order to force everyone into the city?

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Your kids grew up here

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Your grandkids have to grow up here. It's called "Smart Growth" or "Sustainable Development"

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Paul Thiry could not get a permit to replace his steps because the 4X4s to hold the handrail would increase the flooding

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The world eats 420 thousand tons of Pacific salmon each year but it is your house causing them to go extinct

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Regional groups of bureaucrats you didn't elect determine where you will live and work and how you move about. Google ABAG or MTC or PSRC

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Tony Zgraggen has thirty acres near Enumclaw. He has three contiguous ten-acre lots. Tony lives in a small room attached to his machine shed. Tony wanted to build his dream home on one of the lots, about where his tractor sits in the photo. The farmers who lease his property practice crop rotation between corn and hay. Corn does not grow well in wetlands.

When Tony applied for a building permit from King County he was told that he could not build his house because his property was Class 2 wetlands. King County uses different wetlands designations now but the result is still the same. No new development.

Across the road and slightly south (less than 1/4 mile) is a fire station. It was built while the same regulations that prevent Tony from building were in place. The only difference was private citizen versus governmental entity. As the second picture clearly shows the fire station property floods. Neither property is a wetland but King County does everything in its power to prevent citizen taxpayers from building on their properties in the rural area. This story clearly shows that saving "wetlands" is not in play here. Neither property is actually wetlands. The real story is abuse of power to promote an ideology.

This could be what lies in the future unless we all do something. Cities decide what property they want for the new line of transportation and take houses and property away from owners, condemn houses to be torn down so they can build what they want, on your old property. Note the boarded up house that will be torn down that can be seen under the new roadway in the air they have built with your tax dollars. You didn't even have a say in any of it.

When you got married and started raising your kids you bought land and built a nice house in the suburbs. Your kids had lots of room in their surroundings, lots of friends living in similar circumstances, and schools nearby that they all went to with the opportunity to develop close friendships. You had the foresight to buy extra land around your home thinking that eventually your kids too could build their dream homes nearby. Their families and your grandkids would be close to their grandparents and the special relationships that come with all that.

But instead you may find out the bureaucrats in city hall have decided your area has developed as far as is acceptable to them. Or you might have what they decided are wetlands where you grew crops until the kids were ready for the land. You may not be allowed to split your property as planned. Your kids are not allowed to build next door. Your dreams may be shattered by city hall.

Instead, they will be forced into living in small places, stacked together, their friends and neighbors now in the apartment next door, not across and down the street as you had planned for them. City hall instead has decided what's good for them. Available land to build is far away and way too expensive for your kids. Your nearby family dreams have been shattered by city hall.

Paul Thiry has a home on May Valley Road in the Renton, Washington highlands. In the early 1980s, May Creek was moved close to his home to make way for some new homes nearby. Moving the creek caused his home to start flooding. Mr. Thiry complained loudly enough that the King County Executive, Randy Revelle, came to May Valley to see the problem for himself. There was increased flooding in other parts of the county so Mr. Revelle created a new division of the King Count Department of Natural Resources called Surface Water Management Division. A new tax was placed on rural property to fund the efforts of Surface Wate Management.

By 2000 the county had collected $180,000,000 to manage surface water and flooding was dramatically worse all across the county. The steps to Mr. Thiry's house had also sucuumed to the flood waters. He tore them off and started to rebuild them. He received a stop work order (red flag) because he did not have a permit for the work of rebuilding three steps. Mr. Thiry is an architect so he drew up plans, filled out the application and submitted it all to King County. His application was denied on the basis that the two 4X4 posts he proposed to hold up his handrail would increase the flood level on his upstream neighbors. Those are the same neighbors for which the creek was moved in order to accomodate their homes.

Meanwhile, King County was forcing the state of Washington to place huge root wads with sections of stumps attached into May Creek approximately 150 yards downstream. The State was required to do so as "mitigation" for the redesign of the intersection of State Route 900 and May Valley Road where several people had died due to the inadequacies of the original design. People are no longer dying at that intersection so the increased flooding on Mr. Thiry's house is probably worth it but Mr. Thiry still has no steps.

You can get more information about this and see video as part of the May Valley Video.

American property rights are based on the fundament union of human labor and natural resources. Those who wish to change America to a collectivist state devoid of property rights achieved a stunning success by removing the once mighty timber industry from our vast renewable forests via the spotted owl. We now know that it is the bigger barred owl that threatens the spotted owl, not loggers, but the die has been cast. False accusations of harm to some species can be used to move people off the land.

Now that the loggers have been moved into the cities, the rural areas of the great Northwest are being attacked using salmon. We are told that human misuse of watersheds is causing the extinction of Pacific Salmon and that everyone living in those watersheds must move into the cities.

Many of the numbers used in this article are based on the work of Dr. Leonid Klyashtorin of the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. He has been studying salmon fluctuations since 1980.

It is helpful to think of the North Pacific as the “pasture” for pacific salmon. Just like any pasture it has a maximum carrying capacity which varies from year to year based on the amount of food available from species lower in the food chain. The carrying capacity of the North Pacific for salmon is 1.4 to 1.7 million tons in periods of maximum production and 600 to 800 thousand tons in the minimum periods. We harvest about 70% of the fish so the harvestable amount will vary from 1.2 million tons to 420 thousand tons.

Dr. Klyashtorim has established that salmon and several other species both in the Pacific and the Atlantic achieve peak populations roughly every 60 years. The last peak cycle topped out in 1995 with a harvest of just less than 1 million tons. Shortly thereafter runs returning to Washington were declared endangered and the war against rural landowners was begun and continues.

You can read an overview questioning the salmon recovery efforts in the Northwest in the January-February 2006 issue of The Naked Fish. See Dr. Robert Crittenden�s story of the sordid agenda behind salmon politics at http://capr.us/PDFs/Crittenden_Two_Studies.pdf (206 page pdf).

The United States of America was created as a Constitutional Republic as were the individual states. Local governments such as cities and counties are usually democracies though some have charters or similar instruments that serve much the same purpose as constitutions. Voters elect representatives to federal, state and local governments. Those representatives are supposed to govern based on the will of the majority while respecting the rights of minorities as provided in the constitutions.

Unfortunately, more and more governing is being done at the regional level by appointed boards of bureaucrats, politicians and activists that have not been elected to their regional position by anyone. They spend your tax dollars to decide how to manage the lives of everyone in their region with no regard for constitutional guarantees. Seats at the table are normally filled by hand-picked representatives of whatever agenda is being pushed. Property owners are usually under represented if they are represented at all.

Google WRIA, PSRC, ABAG and MTC to see if any of these entities actually represent you.

From CAPR Blog

Urgent Action! Your Calls Will Restore Property Rights!

2015-01-28
By cindy
Urgent Action! Your Calls Will Restore Property Rights! Friends in Property Rights,Let's continue the work to uphold and respect your property rights! Your Calls and Emails are working and ther...more

Save Our Agricultural Land!!! Legislative Alert!!!

2015-01-25
By cindy
Action Alert!! Save our Ag lands!! Call in and Support These Bills!!! Legislative Hotline: 1.800.562.6000 According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, our agriculture and food indust...more

Water Rights Statewide Legislative Alert!!!

2015-01-25
By cindy
WATER RIGHTS BILLS!!! Please call your representatives or the Legislative Hotline 1.800.562.6000 and give them the bill #s and tell them you are in support of these bills and want them PASSED! ...more

Eminent Domain Legislative Alert!!!

2015-01-25
By cindy
Citizens� Alliance for Property Rights Statewide Legislative Alert!!! Three Bills on Eminent Domain: Each of these bills intend to better define eminent domain and prevent takings for other than tru...more

Urgent Call To Action! Call Olympia and Get These Bills Heard!

2015-01-21
By cindy
Urgent Action! Call These Committees and ask for Hearings! CAPR members and fellow Citizens, CAPR has been lobbying and advocating for Property Rights in Olympia since the 1st day of the se...more

Promising Bills Respecting Property Rights in Olympia!

2015-01-18
By cindy
Friends in Property Rights, 2015 holds much promise for Property Rights in Olympia! There are many bills that will uphold and respect your property rights on the table, and all they need to pass is t...more

CAPR Banquet 2015!

2015-01-09
By cindy
Many members and friends have been looking forward to the CAPR Banquet, here is a friendly reminder of our Banquet date. The CAPR Banquet is March 14, featuring nationally respected keynote sp...more

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)

2015-01-09
By cindy
This lengthy named proposed project with a title burdened with pseudo language is equally burdened with psuedo needs, science, and law. It boils down to this; do Washingtonians want to lose vast area...more

You Can Help CAPR Engage a CAPR Lobbyist and Advocate!

2015-01-03
By cindy
2015 Can Be CAPR's Most Productive Year! Thanks to your generosity and dedication to the cause of property rights, CAPR had an eventful 2014, CAPR and the CAPR Chapters were able to take many su...more

2014 - A BUSY YEAR FOR THE CAPR LEGAL FUND!

2014-12-19
By cindy
2014 CAPR Legal Fund Wrap Up! 2014 - A BUSY YEAR FOR THE CAPR LEGAL FUND With Your help, this past year has turned out to be the busiest and most active for the CAPR Legal Fund since the King ...more

Economic "Values": Should Industry be traded for Eco-tourism?

2014-12-19
By cindy
In a complicated dance between the Federal Government, Corporate Environmental Organizations, Private Property Rights, and Industry a new trend is emerging. Trade your rights for pie in the sky eco-t...more

The Dangers of Access and Trespass

2014-12-19
By cindy
Suppose an environmental corporate group with an known a publicized extremist agenda were to trespass on your land because some people in the area have granted access for other traditional reasons. S...more

Supreme Court to Review CAPR �Open Public Meetings Act� Challenge

2014-12-13
By cindy
Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights You Can Help CAPR With Supreme Court Challenge! Supreme Court to Review CAPR �Open Public Meetings Act� Challenge The Washington Supreme Court has a...more

CAPR Stevens President Ren� Holaday Interviewed on Home Front

2014-12-06
By cindy
CAPR Stevens County President Ren� Holaday is interviewed by Missouri's Cynthia Davis on this Home Front Podcast. http://www.cynthiadavis.net/pro...more

PSNERP Continues to Provide Controversy

2014-12-05
By cindy
The Army Corp of Engineers and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife continue to provide controversy with their proposed Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Projects. These 11 Billio...more

American Citizens Must Regain Legislative Representation

2014-11-30
By cindy
Student of the history of Liberty Lord John Acton famously said �Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.� With this in mind, as Free American Citizens we owe ourselves dutiful ...more

Petition to Repeal and Replace the 2001 Skagit Instream Flow Rule

2014-11-22
By cindy
On behalf of the following groups, a petition to repeal and replace the 2001 Skagit Instream Flow Rule has been submitted. � Washington REALTORs � Building Industry Association of Washington � Nort...more

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project

2014-11-20
By cindy
The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosytem Restoration Project, PSNERP, http://www.pugetsoundnearshore.org/ will have comment on their NEPA until November 24...more

Not Without A Fight Posts Letter about Land Grab

2014-11-17
By cindy
From Not Without a Fight: http://countieswithnationalforests.wordpress.com/2...more

Devastating Tidal Wave of Endangered Species Expected!

2014-11-16
By cindy
The Center for Biological Diversity and Wild Earth Guardians have set the circumstances for an alarming increase in Endangered Species Listings in Washington State, with the projected possibility of 8...more

Limiting Government Intrusion into Property Rights

2014-11-12
By cindy
Forbes points out government's intrusion into agriculture, property rights, and functional commerce is a problem constantly looking for a solution. This thoughtful article raises questions regarding ...more

Riparian Property Rights Defended with Amici Brief

2014-11-12
By cindy
In Florida, plaintiffs claim riparian property rights. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the City of Sanibel claim that riparian rights are based in state law and are not "fundamental" ri...more

Property Rights Organization files Petition for Review

2014-11-12
By cindy
Preserve Responsible Shoreline Management LLC has filed a petition for review with the Growth Management Hearings Board to challenge the City of Bainbridge Island�s new Shoreline Master Program (SMP) ...more

Prairie Dog "Takings" re ESA Struck Down in Utah Court

2014-11-10
By cindy
From the Washington Post: District Court Strikes Down Endangered Species Protections for Exceeding the Scope of Federal Power By Jonathan H. Adler November 5 This afternoon a district court ...more

Join CAPR, the Mining Community and Others to Comment!

2014-11-06
By cindy
Join CAPR, the Mining Community, and others at 8:30 am sharp Friday, Nov. 7. Sign in to comment on: http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2014/wsr_14-14-133.pdf...more

Ecology Provides Flawed Documentation for Spokane In Stream Flow Rule

2014-11-05
By cindy
The Washington State Department of Ecology has determin...more

Not Without a Fight Provides a Video on Forestry

2014-10-30
By cindy
To borrow from a great blog "Not Without A Fight", we share a presentation by Phil Aune on Forestry. A good insight into what Counties with National Forests face, and how to solve problems faced toda...more

Is Government the Answer to Marijuana?

2014-10-26
By cindy
Regardless of personal opinions regarding Marijuana Use, the Control of the Government in this issue has always been a situation that would be questionable at best. What must be decided is what is ...more

Excellent Interview with Justice Richard Sanders, Property Rights Discussion

2014-10-23
By cindy
Jason Overstreet of Law and Liberty Radio interviews Retired Justice Richard Sanders, a constant champion of individual rights. Discussion of Property Rights in Washington State with a constitutional...more

Save Our Agricultural Lands! Protect Our Property Rights!

2014-10-21
By cindy
Critically Important Meeting Announcement: Save our Ag Lands! Protect Property Rights! There will be a meeting in Skagit County at 7 pm on Monday, October 27, 2014. The meeting will be hosted by the...more

Corporate Environmentalists Break Promises

2014-10-06
By cindy
Wild Earth Guardians entered into an agreement with the Department of the Interior US Fish and Wildlife Service in May, 2011. The Center for Biological Diversity also entered into an agreement with t...more

EPA's Water Wills

2014-10-01
By cindy
This article by Bonner Cohen, Phd, refutes item for item the EPA's misleading talking points on the "waters of the United States" regulatory overreach. ...more

CAPR Skagit Water Forum a Successful Step in Citizen Participation!

2014-09-19
By cindy
CAPR Skagit Water Forum a Successful Step in Citizen Participation! Thank you Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe, Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, Jim Cook, a sitting Skagit...more

Inalienable Rights

2014-09-19
By cindy
A good, clear minded read..."It�s time to remind those who rule that they rule with our consent, not at our expense, and their job is to protect, not infringe our inalienable rights to "life, liberty ...more

The Church, Libertarianism, and Property

2014-09-17
By cindy
In this interesting yet somewhat confused article about Catholic Theology, Libertarianism, the Common Good, and the right to Property, one can reach the conclusion that Catholic belief and politics in...more

Corporate Environmentalists Litigate Again

2014-09-11
By cindy
In an everlasting cycle of continuous litigation, these Corporate Environmentalists, the plaintiffs � Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild and the Center for Biological Diversity � allege the U.S. Fish and...more

CAPR Files PETITION FOR ADOPTION, AMENDMENT, OR REPEAL OF A STATE ADMINISTRATIVE RULE

2014-09-03
By cindy
CAPR has filed a Petition for adoption, amendment, or repeal of a State Administrative Rule to the WDFW Commission regarding the Proposed Hydraulic Rule Changes which received its most recent hearing ...more

Prepare to Protect Producers

2014-09-01
By cindy
Living with Wildlife is not as easy as some may wish. Living with wildlife in a large metropolis may mean a property owner will be confronted with raccoons, rats and mice, and several rambunctious sq...more

Washington Ranchers Defend Property Rights

2014-08-30
By cindy
The Cattlemen's Association is correct in saying the removal of sheep from privately held land is not a solution to wolves killing sheep. �Preventing the legitimate use of private land to meet politic...more

A Subspecies Fish(y) Story

2014-08-29
By cindy
Thanks to the Skagit Republicans for sharing this article from their September Newsletter. This monthly Newsletter can be seen here:...more

The Dirty Truth of Greenwashing

2014-08-20
By cindy
Greenwashing is a topic of concern for consumers, but those who espouse the danger of companies claiming to have green products are themselves guilty of the practice of greenwashing, with results that...more

US Forest Service Over Reaches it's Authority to Control Water Rights

2014-08-18
By cindy
The US Forest Service, an arm of the US Department of Agriculture has been attempting to control land and water in ways that over-reach legislative authority, this article explores the clear intent of...more

Skagit County In Stream Flow Rule Leads to Lawsuit Fox vs Skagit County

2014-08-16
By cindy
Throughout the State of Washington Land Use is being controlled through the In Stream Flow Rules of the Department of Ecology. In Skagit County this lead to a retired couple being denied building per...more

WDFW Hydraulic Project Rules Public Comment Period Extended to 9/15/14

2014-08-13
By cindy
On August 8th, the Governor appointed WDFW commission heard testimony regarding the proposed HPA rule-making changes. Common projects requiring approval under the state�s hydraulic rules include work...more

"Blueprinters" Active in Washington State

2014-08-12
By cindy
After reading the jaw-dropping report https://www.cfact.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sena...more

Montana Property Rights Conference Covers Hot Topics

2014-08-10
By cindy
United Property Owners of Montana will offer 2 days of presenters discussing such hot topics as PLF's Paul Beard on the Koontz vs St Johns River Water Management District. Also on the list of topics a...more

We're From the Government and We're Here to Take From You - The Sad Story of National Park Service Management

2014-08-09
By cindy
The Federal Government plays rough. Following the Drakes Bay Oyster Company case, one can see why sharing lands with the federal government is not sharing at all. What began as a land agreement with ...more

Oregon Man Jailed for Rainwater Reservoirs

2014-08-08
By cindy
Much curiosity has been generated by this story. This man collected rainwater and run-off on his 170 acre property. Read below of the how and why of this man's reservoirs and his 30 day jail sentenc...more

PANIC IN "SUSTAINABLE CITY"

2014-08-05
By cindy
by Tom DeWeese August 5, 2014 NewsWithViews.com http://www.newswithviews.com/DeWeese/tom250.htm The attacks came fast and furious,...more

Collusion, EPA, and Corporate Environmentalists, Exposed in Government Report

2014-08-03
By cindy
On July 30, 2014 U.S Environment and Public Works Committee Republicans released a report highlighting the collusion between environmental activists, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and bil...more

American Life without The Endangered Species Act

2014-08-01
By cindy
Here is a great article describing the Endangered Species Act, the harm it has caused, and how Americans could do well in actually helping species without the ESA. Thanks to Tom Remington and James B...more

Become a Citizen Ninja!

2014-07-30
By cindy
Mary Baker of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights SanDiego/Orange County California has designed a workshop to help Americans become comfortable and able to exercise their civic duty. Mary's worksh...more

Take Action to Oppose Mountains to Sound National Heritage Area!

2014-07-26
By cindy
Take Action! Your calls can help stop this National Heritage Area and protect your Property Rights! CAPR Opposes the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. The two bills for this propo...more

Washington DOE Lacks Credibility

2014-07-23
By cindy
Many property owners have little faith in the operations at DOE. There are just too many instances of the department seeming to be run on ideology and not on facts. Watch the video of Senator Pa...more

CAPR Stevens County Letter of Introduction

2014-07-22
By cindy
Read this letter of introduction from CAPR Stevens County to Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. This letter explains the reasoning behind the refusal to submit to setbacks. RE: Intro...more

CAPR Stevens County Demands Due Process!

2014-07-20
By cindy
Official Statement by Stevens County Landowners to the WA State Attorney General, Bob Ferguson We the People, who are land and/or livestock owners in Stevens County, non-violently refuse to submit ...more

Delta Smelt and the U S Supreme Court

2014-07-17
By cindy
This case, if heard could relieve some of the pressure on the ESA vs Water Rights ongoing saga in the Central Valley of California. On July 15, 2014, the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, ag...more

National Heritage Areas Interfere with Private Property Rights

2014-07-15
By cindy
CAPR is opposed to the Mountains to Sound National Heritage Area.� Mapping private property into an Heritage area to be managed or controlled by a private unelected, unaccountable entity will interfer...more

EPA Sets Comment Deadlines for Rules That Threaten Your Liberty!

2014-07-12
By cindy
�Take the time to defend your liberties! Comments made to the EPA about proposed rules are important steps that citizens must engage in to protect themselves from Government over-r...more

Washington State DOE Needs Attitude Adjustment!

2014-07-08
By cindy
The arrogant and blatant disregard for citizens' land uses is rampant. What makes these people think they have the right to monitor this man's land use?� If what he does fits his agenda, but not th...more

EPA Moves to Access Your Wallet! Wage Garnishment w/o Court Order!

2014-07-06
By cindy
CAPR ACTION ALERT! Please read this carefully!� The EPA is rule making again, this time to ease the process of garnishing the wages of individuals who ow...more

Small Scale Miners Assert Rights in Idaho Protest

2014-07-04
By cindy
These small scale miners arrived in Idaho from all parts west in unity against the assault of the Federal Government on their right to mine. ...more

Threatened and Endangered Species Listings Likely to Increase Under New FWS Policy

2014-07-04
By cindy
People are wondering how the Notice of Final Policy of the Fish and Wildlife Service will impact them and their properties.� This article takes a look at both the notice and what the author thinks wil...more

Climate Change Planning Displeases All

2014-07-04
By cindy
Plan Bay Area, a climate change based land use and transit plan in San Francisco and environs was challenged by Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of Bay Area Citizens and was rejected by Alameda Coun...more

Corporate Environmentalist Futurewise hits Stumbling Block in Attempted Water Control

2014-07-04
By cindy
WRIA 1� water shed management on going saga of negotiations hits yet another impasse with the County Council at odds with demands and lawsuits of environmentalists.� In stream flow rules, land use gro...more

California Supreme Court Land Use Case

2014-06-29
By cindy
Will California State condemn or acquire properties it wants to use? http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_17...more

Do Humans Matter?

2014-06-29
By cindy
J D King, a young Montanan film making sensation provides this interesting clip from his latest film BLUE, which asks the question: What if the Green Movement is not sav...more

Do Feds Really Own Land? Sagebrush Rebellion

2014-06-29
By cindy
Much of what is said in this article makes sense.� But caution is advised in Washington State when the proposed sale of lands to "private" often translates to sales to Environmental Corporations.� In ...more

Wahkiakum County Property Owners Face Shoreline Ordinances

2014-06-29
By cindy
Having successfully fought of a planned National Heritage Area, Property Owners now want direct input to these processes of Shoreline and Land Use Ordinances. ...more

Whatcom Water Woes III

2014-06-29
By cindy
Water use and rights debate in Whatcom County: Thank you Saturday Morning Live Liberty Road for this presentation! http:/...more

The Cost of Banning Mineral Rights Production

2014-06-28
By cindy
Should at some point those who wish to ban, delay, or over-regulate the development of resources be held financially accountable? Laws and regulations that prohibit production are the fashion of the y...more

Corporate Environmentalists Gather for Extremist Agenda

2014-06-27
By cindy
While it is mind boggling to read the wildlife agendas of these combined Corporate Environmentalists, the one idea garnered for this event seems to be a kind of Environmentalist Anarchy that dismisses...more

Video on Citizens work for Liberty in Liberty

2014-06-25
By cindy
Why would people take time out of a sunny and pleasant Sunday Morning to Shovel Rocks?� Because they love Liberty! ...more

Farm-state senators move to stop EPA water rule

2014-06-25
By cindy
Farmers and all Property Rights Advocates should look at defeating the EPA water rule. http://southea...more

Citizens Work at Liberty for Liberty!

2014-06-24
By cindy
...more

Selkirk Caribou Listing Comment Period Nearing End.

2014-06-22
By cindy
Make your comments a part of the record.� If you live in Bonner County Idaho, or in Pend Oreille County Washington, you have been impacted by this listing.� The Federal FWS had listed the caribou, but...more

Utah's Carbon County Stands for States Sovereignty

2014-06-22
By cindy
In prefacing its case, the commission concluded "that Carbon County does not recognize any attempt by a federal official to try to enforce state or local criminal or civil la...more

National Heritage Area Opposed in Colorado.

2014-06-21
By cindy
Canyons and Plains National Heritage Area.� Colorado's private property owners are aware of the threats to Property Rights and...more

Conservation Easements Risky Business

2014-06-21
By cindy
Caution and a great deal of thought should be applied to any individual contemplating conservation easements. ...more

Ranching Improves the Environment

2014-06-21
By cindy
How animals improve the environment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI ...more

EPA and Proposed Water Rule

2014-06-21
By cindy
New EPA water rule will have a coercive impact.� �Interpretive rule�for farming, ranching muddies the waters and would cause conservation practices to put those who impl...more

Banning Extraction of Mineral Rights could be a Takings with Consequences

2014-06-16
By cindy
Boulder County could be liable for $1 billion in petro "takings" "If ...more

ESA Sub-Species Tactic Challenged by PLF and Property Owners

2014-06-16
By cindy
The trend of Corporate Environmentalists to target a species and then evaluate that species to claim it is a subspecies, thus making it worthy of listing as an endangered species is being challenged. ...more

Logging to Proceed in Jefferson County Despite Corporate Environmentalists

2014-06-16
By cindy
Logging to proceed in Jefferson County, despite Corporate Environmentalists attempt to halt project. The claim was that the logging threatened Marbled Murrelet. Funny, becaus...more

Water Rights Deal Challenged

2014-06-10
By cindy
Two holders of senior water rights want to tell a state growth board that the Kittitas County government�s water banking plans will harm their rights to use and sell their water. The county�s settl...more

Rails to Trails Sham...

2014-06-10
By cindy
Six years ago, King County and Port of Seattle officials gathered in front of the Wilburton railroad trestle in Bellevue to announce what they said was a historic purchase. They were ...more

Open Letter to the DOE from CAPR Spokane RE: Comments Re. DOE-Preliminary Draft Rule for Spokane River Instream Flow Rule

2014-06-06
By cindy
Spokane Chapter of CAPR-Citizens� Alliance for Property Rights May 30, 2014 ann.wessel@ecy.wa.gov Department of Ecology Bellingham Field Office Attn: Ann Wessel 1...more

KINROSS GOLD, BUCKHORN MINE CHESAW, WASHINGTON

2014-06-04
By cindy
Open Letter to Washington State Representatives and Senators, Washington Media: DISTURBING MINING NEWS! KINROSS GOLD, BUCKHORN MINE CHESAW, WASHINGTON DISCLAIMER: Although I am a small scale...more

BLM, Bundy

2014-04-12
By cindy
http://www.infowars.com/county-commissioner-says-bundy-supporters-better-have-funeral-plans/ ...more

Government Forces Small Snohomish County Farm to Close.

2014-04-11
By cindy
Ever changing regulations and precautionary principle too much for small farmers.� Read their story here, thanks to Saturday Morning Liberty Road! ...more

Is This All About Fracking? Bundy, BLM

2014-04-11
By cindy
Some think water, some think mineral deposits, BLM wants control for reasons other than range grasses.� Environmentalism is the cover for control, again? ...more

News Report on Bundy, BLM

2014-04-11
By cindy
News cast and on the scene video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tfOVg5R4ngA ...more

Western State Legislators, Sheriffs, and Veterans Stand Vigil in Support of Embattled Nevada Rancher

2014-04-11
By cindy
Coalition of Western State Legislators, Sheriffs, and Veterans Stand Vigil in Support of Embattled Nevada Rancher, Cliven Bundy �To Prevent Another Ruby Ridge or Waco� ...more

Clive Bundy vs The BLM Update Tensions Increase as feds Seize Nevada Rancher�s Cattle

2014-04-11
By cindy
During a Wednesday�s night town meeting, community members came out in force to support rancher Cliven Bundy. Earlier in the day, BLM and park rangers had tasers ready�to go�as they faced a�few doz...more

Rancher Cliven Bundy under Siege by BLM. Feds Sieze Cattle, Bring in Snipers.

2014-04-11
By cindy
Fast paced story about Federal Government over the top actions! By Chuck Baldwin April 10, 2014 NewsWithViews.co...more

'This is our heaven': Colorado couple fights to save land from eminent domain

2014-04-11
By cindy
By Faith Mangan, ...more

Good Books for Fair Weather Readers

2014-04-04
By cindy
With all that is happening with Property Rights, Land Use, and governmental over-reach, it might be a good idea to decide to read some informative books for your warm wea...more

Teanaway Community Forest Meeting: A Tale of Two Communities

2014-04-01
By cindy
...more

How Environmental Ideology Doomed California

2014-04-01
By cindy
http://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/ideologies-without-consequences/?singlepage=true ...more

DOE Instream Flow Proposed for Spokane River Watershed

2014-03-30
By cindy
The Washington State Department of Ecology explains� instream flow as� "Ecology is required by state law to retain adequate amounts of water in streams to protect and preserve ...more

Property Rights Win at The Supreme Court!

2014-03-11
By cindy
http://myfreedomfoundation.com/blog/liberty-live/detail/us-supreme-court-gives-a-bully-a-bl...more

WDFW Advisory Committee for Teanaway Community Forrest Announced

2014-03-10
By cindy
This will be a curious experience in community living.� Read the members bios and see what kind of advice you might expect to be dispensed.� This Washington first bears watching... ...more

Land Use Comprehensive Plans, ICLEI, Sustainable Development, Smart Growth, Progressive Communalism

2014-03-05
By cindy
Canada Free Press ...more

Open Letter to Pierce County re SMP

2014-03-04
By cindy
...more

CAPR Banquet March 15! Sneak Peak at Auction Items!

2014-03-01
By cindy
...more

Mountains to Sound Greenway and Maritime National Heritage Areas Opposed!

2014-02-12
By cindy
Heritage Areas Opposed! Recently Mountains To Sound Greenway released a press note, touting the collection of over 1,000 signatures urging congress to hurry up and pass legislation to establish the...more

Washington Fish and Wildlife Seeks Comments on Land Acquisition Proposals!

2014-01-13
By cindy
Please review this important press release, and respond! Your response will become part of the public record. Make sure to copy your responses to your legislators! Part of the problem we have as...more

Important Hearing in Olympia January 16, 10:00am!

2014-01-13
By cindy
ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT HEARING IN OLYMPIA Reform the Growth Management Act! If you can make it to this hearing, then by all means do so! This is a workshop regarding making changes to the GMA! ...more

Endangered Species Act,

2014-01-07
By cindy
Many Celebrated the Endangered Species Act's 40th year, yet, the clear minded are looking more closely at the results.�� While it is true that many species are more abundant than they were when the Ac...more

Property Rights The Challenges and the Positive Momentum of 2013.

2013-12-31
By cindy
Those who wish to preserve and protect property rights have faced many challenges in the year 2013, those challenges and many more will face us in the coming year 2014. On the other side of the coin, ...more

WDFW Seeks Far-reaching Hydraulic Rule Code Changes it is not Prepared to Administer

2013-11-10
By cindy
Impact Statement on proposed changes to the Hydraulic Code Rules -Chapter 220-110 Washington Administrative Code (WAC). The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has prepared a Draft Programma...more

Lake Tapps Residents Fight for Shoreline Space.

2013-11-10
By cindy
At issue is a proposed buffer that would accommodate vegetation while restricting lake-front development By STEVE MAYNARD Staff writerNovember 10, 2013 Lake Tapps residents say the state is t...more

Meetings for Reform of Washington's GMA and SMA

2013-11-09
By cindy
There has been much call for reform of Washington�s Growth Management Act and Shoreline Management Act and the Legislature is currently reviewing the GMA. We would like to thank Senator Pam Roach for ...more

Whatcom County�s Rural Lands; For Nature and People?

2013-10-25
By cindy
By Roger Almskaar, CAPR Whatcom Published in the Business Pulse, Fall 2013 issue: Whatcom County�s Rural Lands; For Nature and People? Local news media have barely c...more

Virginia Farmer Starts Property Rights Legal Revolution

2013-10-24
By cindy
From "The American Thinker" October 24, 2013 Virginia Farmer Starts Property Rights Legal Revolution By Mark J. Fitzgibbons Long and growing is the list of property rights abuses by federa...more

Advancing the Case for the Mills

2013-10-01
By cindy
The Latest Update on the Mills Case! Most of the contributions to CAPR are to the Legal fund. This tells us that most people think the way to protect our property is through legal ...more

CAPR is in the midst of the most important legal battle of its history!

2013-09-28
By cindy
An Update on the Mills Case! Most of the contributions to CAPR are to the Legal fund.� This tells us that most people think the way to protect our property is through legal battles. ...more

Are Property Owners Being Put at Risk with Prescribed Burns?

2013-09-24
By cindy
On Sept. 11, the surrounding communities of Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Leavenworth and Wenatchee were basking in temperatures between 91 and 97 degrees with a forecast of more of the same. These communi...more

Control the Water Control the People!

2013-08-20
By cindy
Ravalli County commissioners object to USFS water rights claim. August 9, 2013 By Perry Backus HAMILTON - The Ravalli County commissioners continue to voice opposition to the U....more

Small Town in Texas Swats Small Farm!

2013-08-20
By cindy
Is there a problem with the power wielded by government of any size?� The city code enforcement goes over the top with a swat raid on a small farm in order to force code compliance.� What if the law e...more

Pacific Legal Foundation Files Suit in Plan Bay Area

2013-08-20
By cindy
Mimi Steel of CAPR San Francisco Bay Area� explains the problems with Plan Bay Area in an article for Exurbia Chronicles:Thank you Mary Baker of� CAPR SanDiego/Orange! ...more

Speak up about your access! Sustainable Roads in the Mt.Baker Snoqualmie National Forest.

2013-08-20
By cindy
You may make your voice heard in this decision making campaign. Check this website to see details and scheduled meetings. ...more

Will the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area Become a Reality?

2013-06-26
By cindy
No MSG, Smart Resistance Why it is wise to reject a National Heritage Area by Cindy Alia �What is a National Heritage Area?� Good question indeed and one that is commonly asked in almost all docu...more

Hijacking the heartland, by Doreen Hannes

2013-06-21
By cindy
Does any of this sound familiar?� If so is it time to take some action individually to protect your rights?� Much like the intended and not yet imposed Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Ar...more

Property Rights Are Not Secure in Washington State

2013-06-13
By cindy
Property Rights Are Not Secure in Washington By Preston Drew, President, Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights In 2008 the Washington State Court of Appeals threw out the most controv...more

The Persecution of Jeremy Hill

2013-05-08
By Rodney McFarland
The Persecution of Jeremy Hill by William Norman Grigg. ...more

J.D. King Interviewed about Movie "Axed".

2013-05-08
By cindy
�Thanks to Patriot Update! ...more

Vilsack Says Rural America is Less and Less Relevant

2013-05-01
By cindy
by truthfarmer in Uncategorized The USDA has been working concertedly since the 1930?s to decrease the number of citizen�s in the US who are actually engaged in farming. The focus, especially since t...more

The �Big Oil� Problem That Wasn�t

2013-05-01
By Rodney McFarland
By Erik Smith ...more

Federal Government Loses Big in Supreme Court Property Rights Case

2013-05-01
By cindy
This will lead you to an uplifting article on Citizen Review Online. Written by Damon W. Root ...more

Picky Historic Conservation Board Interferes with Family's Plans

2013-05-01
By cindy
Property rights battle in Dallas by JASON WHEELER DALLAS - Brittany Bailey and her husband are building a new home in Belmont, the bastion of historic preservation in east ...more

Monroe County, Florida Loses in Land Takings Case

2013-05-01
By cindy
County to Appeal Loss in Land-Takings Case By KEVIN WADLOW Property owners who want to develop 10 acres on No Name Key as the Galleon Bay subdivision won a victory in state appeals court Wednesday -- ...more

Supreme Court: Property Owners Win Takings Case

2013-05-01
By cindy
If the federal government destroyed your property by flooding it, you�d probably expect that they would be required by the U.S. Constitution to compensate you for your property loss. Remarkably, in th...more

Fiscal Cliff and Redistribution

2013-05-01
By cindy
The Fiscal Cliff and the Showdown Between Redistribution and Property Rights by Tim Kowal on December 6, 2012 As the so-called fiscal cliff so-called negotiations...more

Hands off! Ruling makes it tougher for state to seize private property

2013-05-01
By cindy
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent FORFEITURE: In a decision filed last month, Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini called the state�s civil asset forfeiture law �state-sanctioned theft� and ordered...more

King Co CAPR Precautionary Principle Discussion

2013-05-01
By cindy
King County CAPR's Thursday, December 6th meeting featured speaker Daniel Himebaugh, of the Pacific Legal Foundation, who spoke about The�Precautionary Principle vs. Essential Nexus. An in...more

Water Rights Battle, Ventura, CA

2013-01-03
By cindy
There is a proposal for the Casitas Municipal Water District to use eminent domain to take over the Golden State franchise in the Ojai Valley. Casitas has not even released results of a study of ...more

SFBayArea CAPR chapter on the Blaze!

2012-12-12
By cindy
Our San Fransisco Bay Area CAPR chapter has been busy and effective!� Thank you Mimi Steel! San Fransisco Bay Area Property Rights Activists receive recognition from Glenn Beck on Blaze TV, promoti...more

CAPR 2013 Banquet!

2012-12-12
By cindy
Don't Forget to Mark Your Calendar! CAPR 2013 Banquet P...more

Economists in the Wild � The American Magazine

2011-04-29
By Rodney McFarland
Far from damaging brains and killing seals, applying basic economics to the environment preserves it.The industrial revolution that began about 200 years ago has changed humanity�s relation to, and at...more

Monopoly/Rent Seeking vs. Property Rights/Intellectual Property � State of Innovation

2011-04-14
By Rodney McFarland
Here are three easy questions for Libertarians, Socialists, and Economists to determine if a right is a monopoly or a property right. 1) Does the right arise because the person created something? ...more

The Constitution and Property Rights � Tenth Amendment Center

2011-04-05
By Rodney McFarland
It is sometimes suggested that the Founders did not consider property rights important because the term �property� was mentioned only once in the Constitution. The truth is that the Founders were...more

Residents win $2.5M settlement after blaming Seattle for floods

2011-03-26
By Rodney McFarland
They claimed the city chose to let their homes flood instead of fix the problem. The city admits no wrongdoing in the settlement.The residents across a two block region of the neighborhood said they w...more

Central Planning

2010-07-26
By Rodney McFarland
Hippodamus of Miletus was a Greek architect of the 5th century BC. He was the first practitioner of urban central planning. His first project was the city of Miletus, an ancient city on the western co...more

Taking, Nuisance, or Theft?

2010-04-07
By Rodney McFarland
I originally wrote this during the heat of debate over the King County CAO amendments. It is still applicable as the rest of the state bears the brunt of their own CAOs and Shoreline Master Plans....more

Amnesty

2010-03-31
By Rodney McFarland
King County�s Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) has had a long-standing marketing program known unofficially as �1-800 Turn in Your Neighbor.� It has been a very effective wa...more

What the Heck is a Distractor?

2010-03-31
By Rodney McFarland
Anyone who has ever taken a multiple-choice exam has experience with distractors. Every question has one or more answers that look good, appear to be logical and just feel right. But they are wrong. S...more

Buffer, Buffer, Who gets the Buffer?

2010-03-31
By Rodney McFarland
As you listen to your favorite practitioner of the Great Green Lie extol the virtues of ever larger buffers on your 5 or 10 or 15 acres, please keep the following photos in mind. The buffer on the str...more

Individual Control or Collectivist Control?

2010-03-28
By Rodney McFarland
Many land use issues boil down to the question of who should make the decision as to the most appropriate use for any given property. Private property rights advocates will usually choose the owner...more

Clean Water Restoration Act is not about restoring clean water

2010-02-18
By Steve Hammond
January 2010 saw my first attendance at the annual event in Washington DC promoted by American Land Rights Network. This year�s event(s) was entitled The Clean Water Restoration Act Briefings and ...more

Hi! I�m with King County and I�m here to save your lifestyle!

2010-02-18
By Rodney McFarland
Run! I did and if you want any semblance of a �rural� lifestyle, you will too. The King County vision of a �rural economy� can be summed up in two words: ...more

The problem with Evironmetalism

2009-12-21
By Steve Hammond
I keep trying to remind people that environmentalism is, well, an "ism." Folks who want to be good stewards aren't necessarily into the religion of environmentalism. Those who "believe" strongly keep ...more

Private property distinguishes free countries from the rest

2009-12-21
By Steve Hammond
What is it that makes a free country? Is it becuase the country is corruption-free. Nyet. Is it because the free country has taxation below a certain level? Nine. What distinguishes a free country is ...more

CAPR News

Supreme Court rule for Florida property owner in land use case

(Reuters) - In a victory for advocates of private property rights, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday said a Florida property owner may be owed compensation from a government agency that declined to aw