Floodgates Open: Tax-Hungry Governments & Land-Hungry Developers Rejoice..

[IbeaBonehead]

Floodgates Open: Tax-Hungry Governments & Land-Hungry Developers Rejoice in Green Light from U.S. Supreme Court

WEB RELEASE: June 29, 2005

Washington, D.C.—Less than one week after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London upholding the use of eminent domain for private development, the floodgates are opening to abuse.

Already, the ruling has emboldened governments and developers seeking to take property from home and small business owners.

The following examples from newspapers across the country show that the threat of condemnation to homes, small business, churches and other property from government-forced private development projects is being realized. These incidents are the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of properties nationwide are facing the threat of eminent domain for private development, and many more projects are in the planning stages. In its first-ever nationwide study Public Power, Private Gain, the Institute for Justice documented more than 10,000 instances of threatened or actual condemnation for private development nationwide from 1998 through 2002. The Institute for Justice will issue an updated report later this year.
Cities' Actions Since Kelo

Links to News Articles: http://www.ij.org/private_property/connecticut/6_29_05pr.html

Freeport, Texas

Hours after the Kelo decision, officials in Freeport began legal filings to seize some waterfront businesses (two seafood companies) to make way for others (an $8 million private boat marina), according to the Houston Chronicle.

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.

Boston, Mass.

Two days after the Kelo decision, Boston City Council President Michael Flaherty called on the mayor of Boston to seize South Boston waterfront property from unwilling sellers for a private development project. “Eminent domain is one tool that the city can use,” Flaherty told the Boston Globe.

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.”

condt................

Go to the article and readd them all. It will make you ill.

http://www.ij.org/private_property/connecticut/6_29_05pr.html

We are so screwed now it is no longer tolerable that these people remain in office.