Thursday, June 23, 2005

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes

WASHINGTON By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue. In a scathing dissent, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said the decision bowed to the rich and powerful at the expense of middle-class Americans.
The 5-4 decision means that homeowners will have more limited rights. Still, legal experts said they didn't expect a rush to claim homes.
"The message of the case to cities is yes, you can use eminent domain, but you better be careful and conduct hearings," said Thomas Merrill, a Columbia law professor specializing in property rights.

The closely watched case involving New London, Conn., homeowners was one of six decisions issued Thursday as the court neared the end of its term. The justices are scheduled to release their final six rulings, including one on the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays on public property, on Monday.
Justice
John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority, said New London could pursue private development under the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property if the land is for public use, since the project the city has in mind promises to bring more jobs and revenue.
"Promoting economic development is a traditional and long accepted function of government," Stevens wrote, adding that local officials are better positioned than federal judges to decide what's best for a community.
He was joined in his opinion by other members of the court's liberal wing — David H. Souter,
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, as well as Reagan appointee Justice Arthur Kennedy, in noting that states are free to pass additional protections if they see fit.
The four-member liberal bloc typically has favored greater deference to cities, which historically have used the takings power for urban renewal projects.
At least eight states — Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, South Carolina and Washington — forbid the use of eminent domain for economic development unless it is to eliminate blight. Other states either expressly allow a taking for private economic purposes or have not spoken clearly to the question.
In dissent, O'Connor criticized the majority for abandoning the conservative principle of individual property rights and handing "disproportionate influence and power" to the well-heeled.
"The specter of condemnation hangs over all property," O'Connor wrote. "Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory."
Connecticut resident Susette Kelo and others in the lawsuit pledged to continue their fight. Nationwide, more than 10,000 properties were threatened or condemned in recent years, according to the Institute for Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners.
"It's a little shocking to believe you can lose your home in this country," said resident Bill Von Winkle, who said he would keep fighting the bulldozers in his working-class neighborhood. "I won't be going anywhere. Not my house. This is definitely not the last word."
But Connecticut state Rep. Ernest Hewett, who as a city council member approved the development, said, "I am charged with doing what's best for the 26,000 people that live in New London. That to me was enacting the eminent domain process designed to revitalize a city ... with nowhere to go."
New London once was a center for the whaling industry and later became a manufacturing hub. More recently the city has suffered the kind of economic woes afflicting urban areas across the country, with losses of residents and jobs.
City officials envision a commercial development including a riverfront hotel, health club and offices that would attract tourists to the Thames riverfront, complementing an adjoining Pfizer Corp. research center and a proposed Coast Guard museum.
New London was backed in its appeal by the National League of Cities, which argued that a city's eminent domain power was critical to spurring urban renewal with development projects such Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Kansas City's Kansas Speedway.
Under the ruling, residents still will be entitled to "just compensation" for their homes as provided under the Fifth Amendment. However, Kelo and the other homeowners had refused to move at any price, calling it an unjustified taking of their property.
The case is Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.
___
Associated Press writers Matt Apuzzo in New London, Conn. and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Conn. contributed to this report.
___
On the Net:
The ruling in Kelo v. New London is available at:
http://wid.ap.org/documents/scotus/050623kelo.pdf

These are truly scary people on the Supreme Court. Calling them the "liberal wing of the court" is insane. They are more like the fascist wing of the court. They are taking the rights we cherish as Americans apart piece by piece. Now they can take your home to build any evil corporate blight they wish. When will it end?

Saturday, June 18, 2005

King of Kings

Photo Credit: Ras Adam

Prophecies of Rastafari In the Bible

These links to books in the Bible have prophecies of Rastafari in them if you have eyes to see.

Revelation Chapter 5 Verses 1-5 Chapter 19 Verses 11-16
1 Timothy Chapter 6 Verse 15-16
Isaiah Chapter 11 Verses 1-5
Ezekiel
Psalms Psalm 122 Verse 5
Daniel Chapter 7 Chapter 8
Acts Chapter 2 Verse 30

There are more prophecies of Rastafari in the Bible. If you know of one please post it!

Monday, June 13, 2005

Garrick Owen guitarist for THE PROCESS.

Garrick Owen 21st Century Guitar Hero

Guitarist Garrick Owen is co-founder of THE PROCESS and co-writer of the groups music. Owen’s blazing fusion of diverse musical styles place him as one of the pioneers of 21st century rock guitar. Garrick has been featured in the international music trades, Guitar World and Guitar Player.
He has also been featured on the www.truefire.com website. The site includes Owen's lesson and others from GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE and is also available on a CD entitled "365 Daily Doses Of Nutrition", with lessons written by B.B. King, Metallica, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson, David Torn, Pat Martino, Jeff Beck, Django Reinhardt, Ry Cooder, Duane Allman, Danny Gatton to name a few of the artists featured.
To purchase 365 Daily Doses Of Nutrition CLICK HERE.
To read a review of his unique reggae-rock style on the Guitar Nine website CLICK HERE .
My main man Garrick!

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Haile Sellassie picture courtesy of Ras Adam.

Words of the King

"The stake of each one of us is identical- life or death. We all wish to live. We all seek a world in which men are freed of the burdens of ignorance, poverty, hunger and disease. We shall all be hard-pressed to escape the deadly rain of nuclear fall-out should catastrophe over take us.
The problems which confront us today are unprecedented. They have no counterparts in human experience. men search the pages of history for solutions, for precedents but there are none.
This, then, is the ultimate challenge. Where are we to look for our survival, for the awswers to the questions which have never been posed?
We must look, first to Almighty God, who has raised man above the animals and endowed him with intelligence and reason. We must put our faith in Him, that He will not desert us or permit us to destroy humanity, which he created in His own image.
We must look to ourselves, into the depth of our souls. We must become something we have never been, more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community."

Haile Sellassie- Excerpt from Address to the United Nations, October 6, 1963
From THE LION ROARS: Selected Speeches and Letters of Haile Sellassie.
Click here to order this book

Friday, June 10, 2005

David Asher DJs Reggae.

Summer DJ Gigs

Well summer is finally kicking off into full swing and for me that means one of my favorite gigs, DJ-ing Reggae music. The spot I do it a few Thursday nights each summer is called The Kingfish Restaurant & Tiki Bar (aka The Lantern) - Bay City, Michigan 1019 N. Water St.
The gigs are held on a dock on the river, so its always a bit dicey with Michigan weather but when it is good it is very good.
I play pretty much whatever I want (including requests) which is anything from classic SKA to Roots Reggae and 21st Century Bionic Dub. I always squeeze in a few surprises like rare, unreleased mixes or pre-release Dub versions from THE PROCESS as well. I've been spending a bit of time transfering my Jamaican singles and Lps onto CD also and I've been spinning them too. My buddy Seth Payton from a SKA band called Stamp'd www.stampd.com usually shows up with some contemporay selections as well and it ends up being a rocking affair. Please visit THE PROCESS website www.theprocessonline.com to check the dates and if your a PROCESS or a Reggae fan or just looking for a great time in the area check it!

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Fans of THE PROCESS at the Ann Arbor Hash Bash.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

David Asher with Joe Hunter of Motowns "Funk Brothers" and friends at the 2005 Detroit Music Awards.

Detroit Music Awards

I know it is a little after the fact but I wanted to talk a little about this years Detroit Music Awards and post a picture. As you may know THE PROCESS (after being nominated for several years in a row) finally brought one back. Your humble narrator was voted "Outstanding World/Reggae/Ska Songwriter". This was a really great night for us as we got to see so many happy people who were pulling for us to win! That was the high point for me. I can't possibly mention all of them by name but I do want to send special thanks to our friends Tim James and Sue "Static" Summers. I would also be remiss without thanking our attorney friends in the city Howard Abrams and Howard Hertz. Most of all I want to thank my brothers, bandmates Guitarist (and co-songwriter) Garrick Owen, Bassist and Programmer Bill Heffelfinger and Drummer Gabe Gonzalez! I am very blessed to be surrounded by the other supremely talented members of THE PROCESS.
Another highlight for me was sitting next to legendary Motown keyboardist, Funk Brother Joe Hunter. I found Joe to be very good company and shared a lot of laughs with him throughout the night. Joe was telling me about a night he spent with Paul McCartney in Germany a couple months back and kept me amused all night with his stories.
I would also like to take this time to thank all our friends, fans and families who have supported us through the years. You mean more to us than you could ever know. We love you all!

Monday, June 06, 2005

David Asher

The Process News

Hail Up The Process Massive! Webmaster Steven Gotts and I have decided to attempt to bring you more up to the minute on what has been happening with THE PROCESS . With that in mind we have created this blog page. Here you will be able to read current news on the band and most likely the ideas and opinions of myself, lead vocalist David Asher. I am not sure how often I will be able to post yet as I am incredibly busy at this time but I will try to make it often. The first news on the agenda is the new Mp3 THE PROCESS has released, "Weapons of Mass Percussion". (Free download available at www.ampcast.com/theprocess) This pre-release of the title track from the new CD (due to be unleashed later this year) is a sonic assault that presents a chilling case for those who believe our government is involved in deception and mass mind washing. We have forwarded the track to several alternative media outlets in the hope that they are able to use it in the resistance we must all put up for the sake of positive change.
The future months will see more new releases before the new CD arrives. Included in these plans is a radical new single from the sessions, "Tree of Life" featuring rapper SHOESTRING of Flint's notorious THE DAYTON FAMILY.
So stay tuned for up-to-date word on the band and the projects we are involved in as well as the occasional rant from me! Peace!