New London residents to rally Protest marks 1st City Council meeting since high-court decision

WorldNetDaily ^ | 6/30/05 | WorldNetDaily.com

[Man50D]

Supporters of the residents of New London, Conn., whose homes are in dangers in the wake of last week's Supreme Court landmark eminent-domain decision will hold a rally at the town's City Hall on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the Institute for Justice, which has defended the New London residents, two of the plaintiffs, Susette Kelo, for whom the case is named, and Michael Cristofaro will participate in the rally set for 6 p.m. before the City Council meeting.

Said the statement: "This will be the first City Council meeting after the decision, and the protesters hope to send a clear message to New London's City Council: Let these people stay in their homes. The city does not need their property to do new development projects. The Fort Trumbull homeowners are American heroes who should be honored, not evicted."

The Kelo v. City of New London decision, handed down Thursday, allows the New London municipal government to seize the homes and businesses of residents to facilitate the building of an office complex that would provide economic benefits to the area and more tax revenue to the city. Though the practice of eminent domain is provided for in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, this case is significant because the seizure is for private development and not for "public use," such as a highway or bridge. The decision has been roundly criticized by property-rights activists and limited-government commentators.

Also scheduled to attend the rally are Institute for Justice's Scott Bullock and Dana Berliner, who litigated the Kelo case before the Supreme Court.

[Man50D]

The people of New London aren't going to take the USSC decision lying down. Anyone want to join the rally?

[sushiman]

If I were within 200 miles of New London I'd be there ...Unfortunately , CT yankee I am 9000 miles away in the sushiland ...

[tiger-one]

Why not take those casinos on the State line instead?

[Roccus]

I wonder what political luminary will arise from this event. In NYC, the Fighting 69 from Corona, Queens (another ED battle) gave us the wonderful Mario Cuomo.
Note; That fight was about 69 families who were going to lose their homes for the athletic field of a then not built high school. A compromise was struck and only half were to lose there homes. Forty years later and the HS and field have not been built.

[Fierce Allegiance]

CT ping

[camle]

on teh hartford news this morning I got a laugh when they told of New London city officials whining about being so short on cash that they're selling off surplus city land.
not a bad idea - they know they can always get it back should they need it.

bet they get a lot of interested buyers...

[Mr. Nobody]

bump

[coloradan]

Forty years later and the HS and field have not been built.

Kinda makes you think of a penalty clause... after some period of time after the seizure, the "public use" facility must be built, otherwise, the families should be compensated 10-fold or 100-fold for the loss of their homes for nothing.

[Roccus]

It wasn't really for nothing. After all, we got Cuomo from it.(/s)

[jwalsh07]

Me and mine will be there.

[commonerX]

(0)

[nutmeg]

The people of New London aren't going to take the USSC decision lying down. Anyone want to join the rally?

Yes, my husband and I will be there, as will a few other CT Freepers. Did you see this thread posted on 6/26? July 5th Protest Rally in New London,CT to support Kelo plaintiffs

[nutmeg]

Thanks... I'll ping the CT list here now.

[nutmeg]

ping

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping! (Thanks for the heads up, Fierce Allegiance)

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[TXBSAFH]

Wish I could come, but I am in TX and my wife is abotu to give birth.

[nutmeg]

Texas... a bit of a commute to CT! Congratulations to you and your wife. :o)

[TXBSAFH]

It might take more then one tank of gas.

[mr_hammer]

Has Bill O'Reily had anything to say about the SC decision on eminent domain? He's suppose to be looking out for the people and all. All we get is this Halloway dribble stuff. It is terrible that she disappeared, but I think there are much larger issues that must be covered.

[OESY]

The Kelo Floodgates, Ct'd...

From an Institute for Justice press release:

Lake Zurich, Ill. -- Five property owners facing condemnation for private development had asked Lake Zurich officials to hold off until the Kelo decision. The Chicago Tribune reports that City officials are now moving to condemn.


Arnold, Mo. -- "Arnold Mayor Mark Powell applauded the decision," reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The City of Arnold wants to raze 30 homes and 15 small businesses, including the Arnold VFW, for a Lowe's Home Improvement store and a strip mall--a $55 million project for which developer THF Realty will receive $21 million in tax-increment financing. Powell said that for "cash-strapped" cities like Arnold, enticing commercial development is just as important as other public improvements.


Baltimore, Md. (West Side) -- The City of Baltimore is moving to acquire shops on the city's west side for private development. Ronald M. Kreitner, executive director of Westside Renaissance, Inc., a private organization coordinating the project with the city's development corporation, told the Baltimore Sun, "If there was any hesitation because of the Supreme Court case, any question is removed, and we should expect to see things proceeding in a timely fashion."


Baltimore, Md. (East Side) -- Baltimore's redevelopment agency, the Baltimore Development Corp., is exercising eminent domain to acquire more than 2,000 properties in East Baltimore for a biotech park and new residences. BDC Executive Vice President Andrew B. Frank told the Daily Record the Kelo decision "is very good news. It means many of the projects on which we've been working for the last several years can continue."


Newark, N.J. -- Newark officials want to raze 14 downtown acres in the Mulberry Street area to build 2,000 upscale condo units and retail space. The Municipal Council voted against the plan in 2003, but then reversed its decision eight months later following re-election campaigns in which developers donated thousands of dollars. Officials told the Associated Press that the Mulberry Street project could have been killed if the U.S. Supreme Court had sided with the homeowners in Kelo.


Lodi, N.J. -- Save Our Homes, a coalition of 200 residents in a Lodi trailer park targeted by the City for private retail development and a senior-living community, goes to court on July 18 to try to prevent a private developer from taking their homes. Lodi Mayor Gary Paparozzi called the Kelo ruling a "shot in the arm" for the town. He told the Bergen County Record, "The trailer park is like a poster child for redevelopment. That's the best-case scenario for using eminent domain."


Cleveland, Ohio -- Developer Scott Wolstein has planned a $225 million residential and retail development in the Flats district. Wolstein has most of the property he needs, but is pleased that Kelo cleared the way for the City to acquire land from any unwilling sellers. If eminent domain is "necessary," he told the Plain Dealer, "we think this makes it clear that there won't be any legal impediments." Previously, city leaders publicly supported Wolstein’s call for eminent domain.


Dania, Fla. -- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Dania Beach City Manager Ivan Pato "expressed joy" over the ruling in Kelo. Dania plans to buy a block of properties for a private development project, and Pato said the city will use eminent domain to oust unwilling sellers. "Unless we expand the city's tax base . . .our residents are facing rising taxes on their property," Pato said. "Redevelopment is the only way we will be able to make ends meet."


Memphis, Tenn. -- The Riverfront Development Corp. is planning a massive, 5-mile development effort, including the use of eminent domain to claim a four-block section from the current owners for a mixed-use development. "[Kelo] definitely gives the city more tools in its tool box for dealing with the legal issues surrounding that piece of property," RDC president Benny Lendermon told the Commercial Appeal.


Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Miramar, Fla. -- Broward County officials yesterday cleared the way for new condo and retail development in these three cities. Hollywood residents in the targeted area fear their homes may now be taken for economic development following the Kelo decision. Mayor Mara Giulianti said the City would use eminent domain on a "case-by-case basis" to remove homeowners unwilling to sell.
What a great quote from New Jersey.

"The trailer park is like a poster child for redevelopment. That's the best-case scenario for using eminent domain."

Telling of how the left's lust for government power really affects the poor, isn' it?

-- Radley Balko, theagitator.com/archives/022207.php#022207