Eminent Domain in America: Is this for Real?

[on-ramp]

I was watching Nancy Grace tonight

A woman was fighting to save her home near the beach where she lived for many years because the government wants to take it away from her and give it to a private developer.

This developer then will build luxury condominiums.

I couldn't believe what I was watching. Are we still living in America, the land of the free?

Is our government dangerous and out of control or what?!

how far have we come when the government can take homes away from the poor and give them to the rich...

[widebody911]

Originally posted by on-ramp
how far have we come when the government can take homes away from the poor and give them to the rich...

This isn't a rare occurance.

Money talks, bull***** packs up their stuff and moves inland.

[RANDY P]

Eminent Domain is a concept that all land ultimately is owned by the USA. All successive rights to the property finally end at the Govt.

The power to start condemation proceedings against privately owned RE to return it to the Govt. isn't as easy as you think. The Govt. has to compensate for fair market value, and it has to be court ordered, and it is only if the property can better serve the general public - not from a revenue standpoint (but I'm certain that is a side-effect)

In regards to private property seizures to be sold to other private parties (not the City Govt.), they're just doing that so the cost of revitalization in the cities is funded privately - not through tax burden.

It's a razor's edge - so far the properties seized were dillapidated old and unsafe for occupancy - I don't agree with the whole concept of going private to private, but I don't know if I'd trust the government to offer funding to fix up places either.

Catch 22 if you ask me.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by RANDY P
It's a razor's edge - so far the properties seized were dillapidated old and unsafe for occupancy - I don't agree with the whole concept of going private to private, but I don't know if I'd trust the government to offer funding to fix up places either.

This is incorrect. There have been properties that are perfectly fine, but were labelled 'blighted' by arbitrary decision based on some inane criteria such as having only 2 bedrooms.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/OPINION/60830006/1030
http://www.ij.org/private_property/longbranch/8_30_06pr.html

[M.D. Holloway]

I know that town in Connecticut that this is happening in. The area isn't that bad. I wouldn't live there but it is suitable. I believe that there are 6 homes that are targeted. The residents have lived there for many many years and it is more the concept that is getting to them. I think if a private firm came in and offered them a nice sizable chunk they would skeedattle.

The whole thing was mishandled now they say no amount of money would make them move. I don't believe that for a minute. We all have a price, it is just a question of decimal places!

Here were we live, I know of a town that took land from another town to build a ball field. They bet that the littler town wouldn't sue them because the bigger town had deeper pockets and would dry up the little town. The little town folded. Pretty dirty if you ask me.

[Hugh R]

The whole thing makes you have to really wonder about "property rights". I can see both sides of the argument. Take it to the extreme. How about Mailbu beachfront property with a 1950's one bedroom hut. Should Malibu be able to take it and put up condos which give much more property taxes? I think not, because soon they'll take the entire beach and do the same thing. On the other hand, I can't afford Malibu beachfront property so what do I care.