Depending on how much you read the paper, or how often you feel the need for that two-for-one Long Island special, you may or may not be aware of the lawsuit Brothers recently filed to prevent losing its current location. The suit came after the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents granted the university the right, under eminent domain, to build a performance facility on the property occupied, in part, by Brothers.

Under a recently proposed bill, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents could face greater restrictions in their current power to condemn and acquire land under eminent domain. The bill, introduced Nov. 24, would require the board to obtain permission fro the Joint Finance Committee. That permission would entail a public hearing and a three-fourths majority vote before condemning a property under eminent domain.

The board would need to present the committee with a case for the importance and necessity of the project, provide a construction timeline and answer written questions about the venture from both the committee and the public.

Whether you’d like to keep the Brothers property as a place to Jaeger Bomb to ’90s jams or you think it’s better suited to plush seats and Mozart, the issue at hand is the need for regulation and public input for acquisition under eminent domain. Since the very notion of eminent domain rests on the fact that the property will be taken from its owner for the purpose of public or civic use, it makes sense to be vigilant in making sure that the appropriation is justified.

So, if a property is being taken for the benefit of the community, the community’s thoughts on the matter should be considered relevant and important. The propounded legislation ensures a more careful decision-making process in designating a property as an eminent domain, and allows for a greater degree of public input in the matter.

We’ll drink to that.