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Article Last Updated: 7/18/2005 07:16 AM Congress critical, state lawmakers quiet on ruling State lawmakers stay quiet on property decision PETER URBAN purban@ctpost.com Connecticut Post WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers are taking a back seat in a fast-moving congressional effort to blunt a Supreme Court decision that allows the government to take private land for economic development. The decision, issued June 23 and based on a New London, Conn., case, drew sharp criticism from some members of Congress, who see it as an assault on individual property rights. However, no one from the Connecticut delegation is spearheading efforts to limit the...

Couple says pain of eminent domain ruling eased by states' new debate July 19, 2005, 7:38 PM EDT MINOT, N.D. (AP) _ A U.S. Supreme Court case involving the question of whether cities can take private property for economic development is close to the hearts of Lloyd and Sandy Beachy. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 last month that New London, Conn., had the authority to take homes for a private development project. But it also suggested states may ban the practice. Beachy, the former mayor of New London, and his wife had opposed the city's eminent domain action. Beachy said...

Transforming New London From National Disgrace To National Hero The city and NLDC can have development in Fort Trumbull while letting homeowners, who have shown what it means to be American freedom fighters, stay. There is more land in Fort Trumbull for development than New York has to rebuild the World Trade Center. By SCOTT BULLOCK Published on 7/20/2005 It is ironic that an editorial calling for less heated and “inflammatory” rhetoric about the Fort Trumbull eminent domain controversy accuses the Institute for Justice of waging a “jihad” about eminent-domain abuse. (“Needed: Light, not Heat,” July 17.) That epithet should...

Alarmed by the prospect of local governments seizing homes and turning the property over to developers, lawmakers in at least half the states are rushing to blunt last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling expanding the power of eminent domain. In Texas and California, legislators have proposed constitutional amendments to bar government from taking private property for economic development. Politicians in Alabama, South Dakota and Virginia likewise hope to curtail government's ability to condemn land. Even in states like Illinois - one of at least eight that already forbid eminent domain for economic development unless the purpose is to eliminate blight...

By KATE MORAN Day Staff Writer, New London Published on 7/19/2005 New London — However improbable their chance for success, attorneys at the Institute for Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reconsider the decision in the Kelo v. New London case that allows the city to take private property in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood to make way for a huge new development. In the three weeks since the court handed down its decision, the Institute for Justice has pressed local and state leaders to conserve the dozen houses and single apartment building the city has planned to...

‘Plans' As A Ruse To Grab Land Changes made to the 'plan' have shown how nebulous the supposed 'economic development' can be and how uncertain are the predicted benefits. By NEILD OLDHAM Published on 7/17/2005 New London's attempt to use the power of eminent domain for “economic development” has provided a textbook case for why this power should not be so used. Changes made to the “plan” have shown how nebulous the supposed “economic development” can be and how uncertain are the predicted benefits. The five justices referred to the “carefully considered development plan” in their June 23, 2005, opinion...

Coast Guard Museum Timeline Published on 7/15/2005 • July 14, 2000: Merle J. Smith, vice president of the National Coast Guard Museum Project, says during an OpSail celebration that the museum will be built in the Fort Trumbull area. • March 1, 2001: U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons introduces legislation to bring the museum to New London. The bill would have provided $10 million for construction. • June 28, 2001: The Coast Guard holds public meetings to gauge support for locating the museum either at Fort Trumbull or Riverside Park. • May 2002: The Coast Guard signs a memorandum of understanding...

KATE MORANDay Staff Writer, New LondonPublished on 7/15/2005New London — The Coast Guard's national museum is among several projects that have started to grind ahead since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that the city can raze houses on the Fort Trumbull peninsula to make way for a commercial venture that also will include a hotel, offices and housing.Momentum will likely remain slow and deliberate for the next several months, however, while members of the museum association deliberate exactly where they want the museum to go. Before it begins raising funds for construction, the museum association must settle on...

SACRAMENTO – A group of California lawmakers is trying to block the impact of last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded the government's power to seize private property, a decision that was swiftly criticized by groups across the political spectrum. In the 5-4 decision, the nation's highest court ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses without their consent for private development. State Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge, said the court ruling in Kelo v. New London allows governments to "take the house of a person that it doesn't like, and give it to a person that it...

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Woman settles with Hesperia, gives up land By KATHLEEN STINSON Staff Writer HESPERIA — The case between the school teacher who owned land in Hesperia and the city that tried to foreclose on her was settled Monday. Ellen Zunino owned a 10-acre parcel of land in what is referred to as the "Golden Triangle" area of Hesperia that increased dramatically in assessed valuation, but she said she was unable to pay the assessment. ..... Before the city established an improvement district in the area — west of Interstate 15 and south of Avenal Street — Zunino's...

http://www.mayorslay.com/polls/070805domain.asp Participate on a poll on eminent domain sponsored by Mayor Slay of St. Louis, who is a fan of eminent domain.

The Homeowner & Property Protection Act A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 19 of Article I thereof, relating to eminent domain. WHEREAS, This measure shall be known and may be cited as “The Homeowner and Property Protection Act”; and WHEREAS, Eminent domain has been subject to widespread abuse in California, whereby local governmental entities have condemned property and transferred it, by sale, lease, or otherwise, to the control, management, or exploitation of private entities for private use and profit on the theory that...

In the true spirit of America’s Independence Day, the 4th of July saw battle joined as homeowners, concerned citizens and upholders of the American constitution from all sides of the political spectrum joined forces to defend the now threatened 5th amendment and to protect hard-earned property from municipal governments recently accorded sweeping new powers of eminent domain. ... For many Americans, the damage done and threatened by the decision is as much symbolic as anything else. The decision violates the spirit of the constitution, designed to protects the rights and freedoms (including the right to property) of Americans, effectively nullifying...

Two links with good video of the July 5th rally: http://www.wtnh.com/ scroll down to the video link on the right to: "Fight continues against eminent domain in Fort Trumbull- by Sara Welch" http://moonbatcentral.com/wordpress/?p=625 scroll down to: "Click here to view a brief clip of the rally featuring Ms. Kelo’s speech-one that is short, to the point and quite moving."

Featured in Letters to The Editor Fort Trumbull Just Beginning The Fight Published on 7/6/2005 Letters To The Editor: I am writing about the editorial titled “It's time to move ahead,” published June 26. You have got to be kidding if you think for one minute your words of nonsense could change the way we feel about our homes. Do you think because you can choose to stop printing the opinions of the people from all over this country that the Fort Trumbull residents are going to go away? Do you think because you write words about compensation that that...

Protesters Target Eminent Domain Scores rally against ‘injustice' of events in New London case Buy this Photo Protesters gather on the front steps of New London City Hall at a rally organized by the Institute for Justice on Tuesday, designed to show support for the residents of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood affected by the recent Supreme Court ruling on eminent domain, which sided with the city. "There is no amount of money that could replace our homes and our memories. This is where we chose to settle, and this is where we want to stay. This is America, the home...

"We're not here because mom and dad are supporting us while we write our thesis on what's wrong with the country. We're middle class Americans who have jobs to go to and families to support and we care very deeply about this.” Ted Whittenkraus of Wells, Maine, who was taking part in Tuesday's eminent domain protest in New London By KENTON ROBINSON Day Staff Columnist, Enterprise Reporter/Columnist Published on 7/6/2005 New London — More than 300 protesters from as far away as Maine and New Jersey packed the steps of City Hall and spilled onto State Street Tuesday to voice...

Well over 500 attended, and the amount of flags (including many 'Don't Tread on Me' flags) and protest signs was incredible. People from at least a dozen states showed, Texas was the farthest I heard of, and yes the Freepers were there. The funny thing is, Freepers look just like everyone else, so it is hard to pick them out, except when the signs they were holding identify them as such (see some of the other FR postings for photos). A great time was had by all, including the opportunity to let the evil New London city councilors know what...

Put yourself in the homeowner’s shoes. You buy a home for your family. Perhaps it’s even handed down from your father or grandfather. It’s a place you can afford in a neighborhood you like. The children have made friends. You intend to stay for the rest of your life. As you plant your garden, landscape the yard, put up a swing set for the kids, and mold your land into a home, unknown to you, certain city officials are meeting around a table with developers. In front of them are maps, plats and photographs — of your home. They talk...

The Supreme Court’s decision on Kelo vs. City of New London, erases the principle of private property from 200 years of American history. There can be no question that the founders intended private property to be secure from the arbitrary reach of government. The Constitution sets forth the legitimate purposes for which the government may own property (Article I, Section 8), and it stipulates the process by which private property must be acquired. Moreover, the Fifth Amendment requires that just compensation be paid, when private property is taken for public use. The key term here is "public use." Writing for...