More Connecticut Homeowners Fighting City for Their Property
by Allie Martin
May 22, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Property owners in one Connecticut neighborhood face a showdown with city officials who want to evict the homeowners to make room for a commercial development. It was nearly one year ago when the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark Kelo v. City of New London, which gave municipalities the right to use eminent domain for economic development. Today (May 22) property owners in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood of New London will hold a news conference to thank Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell for her support of homeowners.
Scott Bullock is senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, which is mounting the legal appeals for property owners. He says Fort Trumbull homeowners should be honored, not evicted.
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Scott Bullock |
"This isn't a situation where they're trying to shut down all development. They simply want to hold onto their homes," Bullock says. "And they should not lose those homes just because the government thinks a new owner could create more taxes or try to improve the economy. That's not a legitimate use of eminent domain." The city has given property owners a deadline of May 31 to accept offers from the city to sell their homes, or the city will forcibly evict them and impose hefty fines.
"We'd like to see this issue -- and I think everybody would like to see this issue in New London -- put to bed," the attorney states. "It's been a long, long, hard-fought battle, but these people are willing to hang in there and to fight for their homes. We hope to accomplish that without having to resort to other legal means. We're looking at those options, which would just create more controversy and drag this process out further."
Bullock was co-counsel in and argued the Kelo case, and has worked with property owners in scores of other cities throughout the country challenging private-to-private transfers of property. He contends New London does not need the Fort Trumbull property for the proposed development projects.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
