Letter to the Editor: Briar Cliff Annexation feels like collateral damage

I am a resident of Briar Cliff and right now I feel like collateral damage. Collateral damage is most often used in war for innocent civilians or building being caught in the line of fire.  

Manifest Destiny,  a phrase coined in 1845, expressed the philosophy that drove 19^th century U.S. territorial expansion.  …the US was destined – by God, its advocates believed- to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire continent.  

The impact was a war with Mexico, dislocation and brutal mistreatment of Native Americans, Hispanics and other non-European occupants.  It also fueled a growing debate over slavery – should new states be slave or free states; leading to the Civil War.

Eminent Domain is the power to take private property for public use by a state, municipality or private person or corporation authorized to exercise functions of public character, following the payment of just compensation.  

Lately in law there is Inverse Condemnation which is brought by the property owner when it appears that the taker of the property does not intend to bring eminent domain proceedings.

I think that unincorporated Briar Cliff is being annexed for three reasons.  

1. Tax dollars for real estate and census.
2. Unincorporated Briar Cliff  already has all of its infrastructure (the village stated in a June, 2018 meeting that it is careful in choosing subdivisions with little money to be spent by them when considering annexation).
3. It has a road access area that could be used for Thornwood.  Use of this road access would be devastating for Briar Cliff residents’ way of life.  There appears to be a pattern to abandon the needs of one subdivision for future needs of a new one.  Cheaper or poor planning? If you are in the collateral damage group it doesn’t matter.

All three issues have a standard theme, money.  Money to the town in tax dollars and census growth.  Money to the developer in the cheapest and easiest access for the new home owners.   

So, the town is taking care of everyone but we the collateral damage.  I am not easily persuaded that the good of the builders and the town leaders takes precedent over the good to my neighbors and dare I say,  me.

It is in Briar Cliff’s interest to keep our streets as traffic free as possible.  We have no sidewalks and we have blind curves. Life, not only quality of life is at stake.

It is in our best interest to not pay additional money for nothing.  No additional services with an added taxing body makes no sense to even the most naïve of us.

So, using a primarily war phrase may make a lot of sense.  We aren’t going to willingly be collateral damage.

Collateral damage(per the mayor )to a state funding only 55% due the village.

Collateral damage to an upcoming census that will add dollars to the village for our heads.

Collateral damage to a builder who may have a cheaper way to exit to 47 by using our right of way.

Collateral damage to a village that can grab our property with a plan to do nothing for us in return.