Supreme Court hears case on government's power to seize property

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court appeared sympathetic Tuesday toward a group of New London, Conn., homeowners fighting to keep their land, but the justices seemed equally skeptical of their own power to keep the city from seizing the property to create an upscale development.

It's the first major case on eminent domain, the power of the government to condemn property for redevelopment, to reach the high court in years. The justices fired relentless questions at a lawyer representing the New London residents about why he thought the court should be involved in this dispute and how he would have them distinguish between proper and improper property seizures.

But they also questioned the city's position that it could use eminent domain to condemn any property in order to have it developed into something that produces more tax dollars or creates more jobs.

"Say you have a Motel 6, and the city wants to turn it into a Ritz-Carlton," said Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "Is that sufficient reason?"........MORE........

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/krwashbureau/20050222/ts_krwashbureau/_bc_scotus_development_wa

[Blaq Dem]

1. It's Stealing..plain & simple

Walmart can't survive without it.

I hope the Supreme Court rules in favor of the homeowners.

My 100^th DU Post!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Eminent domaine

was not intended to benefit private business.

* used it to build the in order to build the Texas Ranger's ball field. So much for the Republican belief in propert rights.

[kodi]

3. this is what bush did with the texas rangers ball park and parking lot

corporations working thru manipulation of government power to enrich themselves.

[Carolab]

4. Why should homeowners in older urban areas bother to renovate then?

It's obvious from the photo that this homeowner bought a quaint old little house and redid it. That's what preserves our history in urban areas. Tearing it down for a new Wal-Mart or high-rise does nothing to protect architectural heritage. It's a disgrace.

[smb]

5. This Is A No-Brainer

I was lurking in the FReak house and even they can figure out that this sort of use of eminent domain is tyrannical.