Eminent Domain Stuff
New London Update (2/24/06)
Bad NLDC!
Coverage of the Rally at New London's City Hall (w/ pics)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Some New London Articles (Updated 8:45 am)
First, some legislative issues:
Next, an account of the debate I mentioned last week (registration required, go here)
Update (8:45 am):
In response to this post, I received an email from Bruce Kanner, whose family owns property in Haverstraw New York [fixed text to correct some errors]. He also attended the meeting referenced above. Here's what he had to say:
How would you feel?
What would you do?
Would you want people to support you, help you fight these well-funded, unscrupulous bastards?
Yeah?
Then make dang sure that you never have to ask for such support by helping the New London homeowners and elsewhere in the country now. If they lose, you could be next.
End Update
And finally, all I can really say is: Yep.
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GOP seeks action on eminent domainRead the rest and then tell me which party is interested in protecting the God-given rights of the People and who is allying themselves with Big BusinessTM.
HARTFORD — General Assembly Republicans launched a petition drive Friday to try to force a special legislative session on the controversial issue of government’s use of eminent domain to take private homes for development.
[...]
Connecticut Republicans said the ruling prompted a move by nearly a dozen states to revise their laws.
But Democratic legislative leaders say they see no need to rush to judgment on the issue despite the Supreme Court ruling. They argue that two General Assembly committees are already reviewing the issue and that a compromise agreement should be achieved before scheduling any special session.
Next, an account of the debate I mentioned last week (registration required, go here)
Hartford — That the divide remains deep between those who regard eminent domain as a useful tool to promote economic development and those who fear it's a serious threat to liberty was clearly evident at a forum Friday at the state Capitol.Which rings more true to your ears? The snide comment that the sky is not physically falling to Earth, or the honest quotation of our Second President who, incidentally, had slightly closer ties to the drafting of the Constitution and Bill of Rights than anyone alive today.
[...]
“When you all leave today and go outside ... take a deep breath, look up into the sky and notice that it is not falling,” Horton [who represented the city of New London before the Supreme Court in the Kelo case] told the audience of 80 to 100 people who gathered in the Judiciary Room.
But another panelist, Susan Kniep, president of the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayers Association, saw the decision as not something to be made light of, but a real and genuine threat to every individual's freedom and way of life.
“The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God and there is not a force of law or public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. Property must be sacred or liberty cannot exist,” said Kniep, quoting John Adams, the second president of the United States.
Update (8:45 am):
In response to this post, I received an email from Bruce Kanner, whose family owns property in Haverstraw New York [fixed text to correct some errors]. He also attended the meeting referenced above. Here's what he had to say:
I responded to Mr. Horton at the debate on eminent domain last Friday by saying the following:Think about it. Go home tonight and look at your home. Think of all the hard work you've put into making your home not just look 'nice', but making it your own. Then think how you'd feel if some 'quasi-public' group of land-stealing thugs (who just happen to be in bed with local elected officials) told you that they were going to take your home (not just a house, but your home) because the city needs to increase its tax base.
Mr. Horton, as an owner of property under the threat of condemnation for more than 5 years, I can answer your question. You asked, "Is the sky falling"? Mr. Horton, when you are under the cloud of condemnation, you never look up.
Bruce Kanner
How would you feel?
What would you do?
Would you want people to support you, help you fight these well-funded, unscrupulous bastards?
Yeah?
Then make dang sure that you never have to ask for such support by helping the New London homeowners and elsewhere in the country now. If they lose, you could be next.
End Update
And finally, all I can really say is: Yep.
A Vested Interest In Eminent Domain
[...]
This is war. Your local pols are not on your side. With the exception of a few brave state legislators, who will be squashed like bugs on this issue, the political interests are as one in their love affair with the notion that they can call in the bulldozers and play development games with your property.
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