Taking homes in non-blighted areas via Public Domain for developers for profit = fail

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelo_v._City_of_New_London

City council of New London, Conn took homes for "comprehensive redevelopment plan.”
However, the private developer was unable to obtain financing and abandoned the redevelopment project, leaving the land as an empty lot, which was eventually turned into a temporary dump.

Supreme Court in 2005 ruled against the homeowners.

also, Pfizer was suppose to be major beneficiary. but pfizer merged with Wyeth, resulting in a consolidation of research facilities of the two companies.
they walked away from the New London site, closing its New London facility in late 2010 with a loss of over 1000 jobs.

The final cost to the city and state for the purchase and bulldozing of the formerly privately held property was $78 million. The promised 3,169 new jobs and $1.2 million a year in tax revenues had not materialized.

In the aftermath of 2011's Hurricane Irene, the now-closed New London redevelopment area was turned into a dump for storm debris such as tree branches and other vegetation.


recent news of the supreme court made me think of this case.
 
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glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
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Good, I hope the city of New Haven goes bankrupt in karmic retaliation for being enormous assholes.
 

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
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The problem is, even though New Haven got what they deserved for doing what they did, the case and the scotus ruling in that case have now permanently established that it's perfectly OK for the government to simply take private property away from someone and hand it to another private party with the pretense of overall good for the community. :(
 
Apr 27, 2012
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And this is why we must limit the powers of the government so this cant happen. I hope they take away the property from every single piece of shit that voted for and supported this.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,624
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It's New London, not New Haven-totally different city.

I've had the chance to park in front of the Kelly home while attending court in New London a few weeks back. It has a big plaque out front celebrating their obstructionism and is the ONLY fixed up home for blocks around. The only viable business nearby is the abortion clinic across the street. I'm familiar with that area since 1988 and its always been a blighted residential neighborhood full of hundred year old rundown homes just off downtown. The kind of area where half the front windows of the homes are cardboard.

The drug manufacturer that was going to move into this area if it was redeveloped moved its research facility out of New London a few years ago when it became clear this project was dead (even though Kelly lost in court the condemnation never went through due to lack of political fortitude). End result-hundreds of extremely highly paying jobs gone forever from the area, New London is back to being a mostly boarded up rundown small New England city with few economic prospects.

Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
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The problem is, even though New Haven got what they deserved for doing what they did, the case and the scotus ruling in that case have now permanently established that it's perfectly OK for the government to simply take private property away from someone and hand it to another private party with the pretense of overall good for the community. :(

/this.

we don't own the land. we just rent it until someone with more money comes along and wants it.

though many states after this passed laws limiting the scope of ED.
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
126
It's New London, not New Haven-totally different city.

I've had the chance to park in front of the Kelly home while attending court in New London a few weeks back. It has a big plaque out front celebrating their obstructionism and is the ONLY fixed up home for blocks around. The only viable business nearby is the abortion clinic across the street. I'm familiar with that area since 1988 and its always been a blighted residential neighborhood full of hundred year old rundown homes just off downtown. The kind of area where half the front windows of the homes are cardboard.

The drug manufacturer that was going to move into this area if it was redeveloped moved its research facility out of New London a few years ago when it became clear this project was dead (even though Kelly lost in court the condemnation never went through due to lack of political fortitude). End result-hundreds of extremely highly paying jobs gone forever from the area, New London is back to being a mostly boarded up rundown small New England city with few economic prospects.

Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.

No sympathy whatsoever. I wouldn't be sad if every job in New London was lost and your private property confiscated in the same manner. What your city did via its elected representatives was immoral, a naked exercise in selfish greed and the citizens deserve to reap the whirlwind.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
25,948
12,220
136
It's New London, not New Haven-totally different city.

I've had the chance to park in front of the Kelly home while attending court in New London a few weeks back. It has a big plaque out front celebrating their obstructionism and is the ONLY fixed up home for blocks around. The only viable business nearby is the abortion clinic across the street. I'm familiar with that area since 1988 and its always been a blighted residential neighborhood full of hundred year old rundown homes just off downtown. The kind of area where half the front windows of the homes are cardboard.

The drug manufacturer that was going to move into this area if it was redeveloped moved its research facility out of New London a few years ago when it became clear this project was dead (even though Kelly lost in court the condemnation never went through due to lack of political fortitude). End result-hundreds of extremely highly paying jobs gone forever from the area, New London is back to being a mostly boarded up rundown small New England city with few economic prospects.

Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.

Man that sucks that Pfizer pulled out after all that crap. Now all they have is EB, the Navy Sub base, the Coast Guard, and the casinos up the river.

Lived there from 1980 to 1986 (actually Waterford, then Groton). Can't imagine what that place looks like now after all the casinos moved in.

I bet the Hygienic Resturant is still in downtown NL though.
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
22,190
6,418
136
There is no property ownership in the US. Our land and our homes can be taken from us at any time. It's been that way for years, and I assume the reasons under which government can seize our property will continue to grow. I wouldn't be surprised to see private property taken to promote diversity.
 
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PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
101
Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.

Not wanting some other private party to simply walk in and take something that belongs to you without your approval or any recourse is "self centered obstructionism" ... typical liberal stupidity.

Just wait until some big ebil corporation decides they want to put a plant where your house is some day, and you'll be whining.

As a matter of principle, the use of eminent domain should never be allowed to transfer property to another private party. If there's a legitimate need for community to use property (lets say a highway needs to be built through a certain location), that's a completely different situation.
 

cybrsage

Lifer
Nov 17, 2011
13,021
0
0
The city of Harrisburg tried to use ED to take the land from the only parking competitor to the city owned airport parking - claiming they needed it to expand THEIR parking lot. The city lost the ensuing court case.
 

Mean MrMustard

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2001
3,144
10
81
No sympathy whatsoever. I wouldn't be sad if every job in New London was lost and your private property confiscated in the same manner. What your city did via its elected representatives was immoral, a naked exercise in selfish greed and the citizens deserve to reap the whirlwind.

This.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
It's New London, not New Haven-totally different city.

I've had the chance to park in front of the Kelly home while attending court in New London a few weeks back. It has a big plaque out front celebrating their obstructionism and is the ONLY fixed up home for blocks around. The only viable business nearby is the abortion clinic across the street. I'm familiar with that area since 1988 and its always been a blighted residential neighborhood full of hundred year old rundown homes just off downtown. The kind of area where half the front windows of the homes are cardboard.

The drug manufacturer that was going to move into this area if it was redeveloped moved its research facility out of New London a few years ago when it became clear this project was dead (even though Kelly lost in court the condemnation never went through due to lack of political fortitude). End result-hundreds of extremely highly paying jobs gone forever from the area, New London is back to being a mostly boarded up rundown small New England city with few economic prospects.

Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.

I don't think there's any better example of how left wing/progressive/liberals think about citizens trying to keep their homes and protect their private property than this statement by thumper. It's really who they are and how much they hate people.
 
Apr 27, 2012
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I don't think there's any better example of how left wing/progressive/liberals think about citizens trying to keep their homes and protect their private property than this statement by thumper. It's really who they are and how much they hate people.


Agree. They are all pieces of shit who have no respect at all for private property.
 

werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
29,873
463
126
/this.

we don't own the land. we just rent it until someone with more money comes along and wants it.

though many states after this passed laws limiting the scope of ED.
After Kelo v. New London, the single worst SCOTUS ruling since Dred Scot, both parties made a lot of wind about how this shall not stand. In reality, very little was ever done, because all of one party and a lot (if not an outright majority) of the other approve of government and rich people being able to take whatever they want.

Not wanting some other private party to simply walk in and take something that belongs to you without your approval or any recourse is "self centered obstructionism" ... typical liberal stupidity.

Just wait until some big ebil corporation decides they want to put a plant where your house is some day, and you'll be whining.

As a matter of principle, the use of eminent domain should never be allowed to transfer property to another private party. If there's a legitimate need for community to use property (lets say a highway needs to be built through a certain location), that's a completely different situation.
I think an argument can be made for a very few special cases, such as a railroad or hospital, but I mostly agree. Saying that eminent domain is justified if there's the promise of higher tax revenue is just making us all property of government, put here not to pursue our own happiness but to fund the god-king of government.

I don't think there's any better example of how left wing/progressive/liberals think about citizens trying to keep their homes and protect their private property than this statement by thumper. It's really who they are and how much they hate people.
This is amazingly common among progressives. It's rather sociopathic, as though other people are not actually people at all, but merely some things put there (no doubt by government) for their own benefit. As I've said before, progressives are always ready to give you the shirt off someone else's back - after they've checked all the pockets for valuables, of course. Hey, they deserve a little sumpin sumpin for all their trouble, right?

This is where there is a clear distinction between liberals, who seek to maximize individual liberty, and progressives, who seek to force others to serve the central collective hive mind for the progressives' own ultimate benefit.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
After Kelo v. New London, the single worst SCOTUS ruling since Dred Scot, both parties made a lot of wind about how this shall not stand. In reality, very little was ever done, because all of one party and a lot (if not an outright majority) of the other approve of government and rich people being able to take whatever they want.


I think an argument can be made for a very few special cases, such as a railroad or hospital, but I mostly agree. Saying that eminent domain is justified if there's the promise of higher tax revenue is just making us all property of government, put here not to pursue our own happiness but to fund the god-king of government.


This is amazingly common among progressives. It's rather sociopathic, as though other people are not actually people at all, but merely some things put there (no doubt by government) for their own benefit. As I've said before, progressives are always ready to give you the shirt off someone else's back - after they've checked all the pockets for valuables, of course. Hey, they deserve a little sumpin sumpin for all their trouble, right?

This is where there is a clear distinction between liberals, who seek to maximize individual liberty, and progressives, who seek to force others to serve the central collective hive mind for the progressives' own ultimate benefit.

Agreed and let me tell you I'm not happy with Republicans for not fighting against this ruling tooth and nail and trying to fix it. It's just another mistake in a long, long line of complaints I have against the party I usually support. I don't love or even like the Republican party, I just think it's a lesser of the 2 evil parties we have in power.

I still see complaints by the progressives and liberals about Proposition 13 here in California that stopped the Democrats from excessively taxing the elderly and those on a fixed income out of their homes. It's basically just another form of taking by extreme taxation so the big government supporters can have more control over the populace.
 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
81
It's New London, not New Haven-totally different city.

I've had the chance to park in front of the Kelly home while attending court in New London a few weeks back. It has a big plaque out front celebrating their obstructionism and is the ONLY fixed up home for blocks around. The only viable business nearby is the abortion clinic across the street. I'm familiar with that area since 1988 and its always been a blighted residential neighborhood full of hundred year old rundown homes just off downtown. The kind of area where half the front windows of the homes are cardboard.

The drug manufacturer that was going to move into this area if it was redeveloped moved its research facility out of New London a few years ago when it became clear this project was dead (even though Kelly lost in court the condemnation never went through due to lack of political fortitude). End result-hundreds of extremely highly paying jobs gone forever from the area, New London is back to being a mostly boarded up rundown small New England city with few economic prospects.

Yeah, congrats to Kelly-their self centered obstructionism was great for their personal fame, and the rightwing think tank backers that funded them-all at the expense of their community. Something to be real proud of.
What good is it having a high-paying job if the money that you earn working that job can be taken away on a whim? What good is it saving to buy land, a house, a car, or even a bike if private property is not inviolable? Myopic knuckle dragging like this is why New London will remain a run-down crappy place.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
What good is it having a high-paying job if the money that you earn working that job can be taken away on a whim? What good is it saving to buy land, a house, a car, or even a bike if private property is not inviolable? Myopic knuckle dragging like this is why New London will remain a run-down crappy place.

would you wan't to buy a house in a area with the history it has? i sure in the hell wouldn't want to risk it.

Ed should be a only used for roads, schools, parks. it should NEVER be used to take PRIVATE property and given to a business.

many states have passed laws limiting ED. trouble is now many places are just condemning good buildings and taking them. then selling the property to business (that happened around here a few years ago).
 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
81
would you wan't to buy a house in a area with the history it has? i sure in the hell wouldn't want to risk it.
What does that have to do with what I said? If someone wants to own it or buy it, that's their business. It's all our businesses if someone uses the force of law to take private property when government exists to protect the right to private property.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
How appropriate it turned into a dump. Let the taxpayers have a daily reminder that the idiots\corrupt bastards they elect have consequences.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I really don't see why eminent domain has to exist. If you want that property, pay whatever the owner demands or get lost.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,624
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How appropriate it turned into a dump. Let the taxpayers have a daily reminder that the idiots\corrupt bastards they elect have consequences.

It didn't turn into a dump-that neighborhood was a dump before and it is still a dump. Sitting right in the middle is the Kelo house-all spruced up with a fancy historical type plaque in the front yard. If you stand in just the right spot you can take a picture with your instamatic that documents the evil of urban renewal.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
It didn't turn into a dump-that neighborhood was a dump before and it is still a dump. Sitting right in the middle is the Kelo house-all spruced up with a fancy historical type plaque in the front yard. If you stand in just the right spot you can take a picture with your instamatic that documents the evil of urban renewal.

Those evil bastards. Imagine the balls of those Americans who actually believe they own their own house. Not very collective of them.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,624
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Those evil bastards. Imagine the balls of those Americans who actually believe they own their own house. Not very collective of them.

Come on mono you aren't stupid enough to believe that this home wouldn't be as dumpy as the rest of the neighborhood without all the special interest money that was poured into it? Its exactly the same thing as the show towns the Communists had in the old USSR and North Korea has now. It's time to throw off the self imposed blinders and shackles you burden yourself with and see through the propaganda.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
Come on mono you aren't stupid enough to believe that this home wouldn't be as dumpy as the rest of the neighborhood without all the special interest money that was poured into it? Its exactly the same thing as the show towns the Communists had in the old USSR and North Korea has now. It's time to throw off the self imposed blinders and shackles you burden yourself with and see through the propaganda.

A dumpy house? Ooooh let's steal it from the citizen owner then and award it to a corporation! Yes, that's the ticket!