They seized her property via eminent domain. She fought it all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. Still, Susette Kelo would not move.
A year after the controversial and widely unpopular decision, which gave cities new power to seize property for private redevelopment, the city of New London, Conn., is finally getting Susette Kelo out of the way of their Fort Trumbull project — house and all.
Gov. Jodi Rell said Friday that Kelo and the other remaining holdout, Pasquale Cristofaro, had agreed to a settlement with the city, under terms that were not disclosed. The announcement came a day after a deadline to reach a settlement and be eligible for additional compensation from the state.
The tentative agreement calls for Kelo’s house to be moved, Rep. Robert Ward (D-Conn.) told the Associated Press. That’s right. They’re going to move her house. That’s the only way they could get Kelo, who had lived in the neighborhood for years, to agree to leave.
“I think Governor Rell has great faith that there’s going to be a resolution to this nightmare,” Kelo said Friday. “It’s not positive for me because I’ve got to go. I’m not happy about it.”
The five other homeowners in the case had already settled with the city and handed over their properties.
Scott Bullock, a spokesman for the holdouts, said the plan “takes into account the homeowners’ attachment to their homes in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood.” — Associated Press
In vaguely related eminent domain news, President Bush on Friday issued an executive order to set policy on when the executive branch can seize property under eminent domain. Under the new policy, federal agencies will not be able to seize property for private economic development.
The order is largely symbolic, though, as the federal government has little or no history of such actions, nor does it do anything to prevent the federal government from providing funds to state and local eminent domain actions which are for private redevelopment.
Many states have passed laws or regulations restricting the use of eminent domain in the last year, while many others have accelerated their takings of property for private economic development. In New London, the displaced residents will watch their former property be replaced by upscale condominiums and a hotel and convention center.
Article Series - Eminent Domain
- Supreme Court expands eminent domain
- Opposition mounts to Kelo v. New London eminent domain ruling
- The limits of human rights
- Bits of homeland stupidity
- States move to restrict eminent domain
- New London charges back rent in Kelo case
- New London moves in for the kill
- House votes to defund eminent domain
- New London wins; Kelo, Cristofaro to leave
- One arrested in New London eminent domain protest
- Property Rights in 21st Century America
- Kelo: “May you all rot in hell”
- Lauren Canario freed after three months
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September 23, 2006 3:22 pm
March 10, 2007 1:36 am
4 Comments
What is known is that Kelo’s house will be moved. The most recent reports have indicated that Cristofaro’s house will stay. It is my belief that Kelo’s house will be moved next to Cristofaro’s and that both of them will remain at the NW edge of Ft. Trumbull along with a building called The Italian Dramatic Club, a gathering place for the high-powered and politically connected that was scandalously exempted from eminent domain six years ago.
Holdouts had agreed in principle with the idea of their house being moved within Ft. Trumbull several months ago. The holdup was whether in return for the move they would get titles to their houses.
Rell has been pushing for the holdouts getting immediate-family transfer titles, meaning they can pass the homes on to family members but that the city has the right of first refusal on attempted sales to anyone else.
IF Kelo and Cristofaro get such titles, I won’t call it a “win,” but I think it will be unfair to consider it a “loss,” esp for Cristofaro if it turns out as I anticipate. After a while, one learns that there are rarely total victories for either side in these kinds of things. The ultimate culprits are five Supreme Court Justices. With Roberts and Alito, an em-dom case will hopefully get there soon that will overturn Kelo.
More at BizzyBlog. My main post linking to all others is here. Some of what is above is yet to be added or is scheduled for posting Monday or Tuesday.
Oops I didn’t give you a link:
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=2321
I’ve got a few acres on the moon… I hope they don’t take them when Wal Mart decides they want to put a billboard on my property.
Who gave us the Kelo decision? The LIBERALS on the High Court: Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, Breyer and liberal leaning swing voter Kennedy. Who dissented? CONSERVATIVE justices Rehnquist, Scalia, Thomas and conservative leaning swing voter O’Connor.
New London would never been able to steal Kelo’s property to give to developers if another conservative had been on the court. Remember this the next time you’re wondering who is on the side of individual liberty and the “little guy” and who’s most friendly to Big Brother government.
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