Posted on 11/07/2003 7:40:03 AM PST by subterfuge
Cities use legal clout to grab land By Ludmilla Lelis Sentinel Staff Writer
November 7, 2003
DAYTONA BEACH -- Dino Paspalakis and James L. Mathas are fiercely proud of the arcades and amusement centers that their families have owned for decades on the World's Most Famous Beach.
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In Connecticut, four elderly siblings have been evicted from their home for an industrial park. In Texas, 10 homes were condemned for a shopping center and parking lot. In California, land for a Christian community center was condemned for a Costco. A historic Ohio neighborhood faces condemnation because its homes don't have modern amenities such as two-car garages or central air conditioning.
"Originally eminent domain was used to redevelop the worst areas that you have, your slums, but now, it is used to take the most desirable areas and give it to a more desirable development."
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"No one wants to employ the use of eminent domain. I don't want to do it. Honest, I don't," Mayor-elect Yvonne Scarlett-Golden said Wednesday.
"After a while, you begin to run out of slums," Burling said. "And to do redevelopment in slums, that project may fail, so cities began defining blight very broadly."
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"There's so much money in redevelopment that if people's dreams and homes get in the way, that's too bad," Burling said. "The government will argue, 'We need more taxable value. We need more aesthetic value.' "
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
I still suspect someone gets a kickback for this at some point.
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I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
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Unfortunately, the original purpose of that amendment is starting to become more clear.
Let me clarify that:
This issue was defeated postponed by voters on Tuesday.
Guarantee; they will try again with unlimited taxpayer money against the very limited owners funds.
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