Borough stealing land from citizens

In 1996, the Kenai Peninsula Borough began to take control of private land from property owners, with no compensation to the owner. Then in 2008 and again in 2011, the Kenai Peninsula Borough took more land from private property owners.

Since 1996 the borough has created local ordinances to legitimize their taking from more than 4,000 parcels of private property. Most property owners were unaware their property was taken until well after the fact.

The Merriam Webster dictionary definition of “steal” is “to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice.” The definition of “thief” is “one that steals especially stealthily or secretly.”

Some people believe this taking was justified for the “public good.” Using that philosophy, if a thief steals money from the bank and gives it to charity, no crime was committed. 

Our borough’s taking of private property rights is a questionably “legal” form of theft.

Fortunately, there are still good people on the Kenai Peninsula who can tell the difference between right and wrong, that are fighting this theft of private property. They have organized a group called, “Citizens 4 Responsible Waterfront Land Use.” Their web site “C4RWLU.ORG” has details of this ongoing theft and how you can join the fight.

Victims of this ongoing government sponsored theft from 1996 onward, need to join the fight and help bring these thieves to justice. Our current borough assembly members and Mayor Mike Navarre can and should work toward complete repeal of KPB 21.18 or shall be accessories to these crimes against citizens.

Every fair-minded person should become aware of the current and proposed government taking of individual property rights. If citizens don’t oppose the loss of their property rights, our borough will likely continue to chip away at your right to own property. 

Your property rights may be the next ones sacrificed for the “public good.”

Mike McBride lives in North Kenai and is active in
Citizens 4 Responsible Waterfront Land Use.