Re: eminant domain
Here the city has started enforcing ordinances (after 20 years) against what they call neusence properties. Anything that they feel a neusance (sp) gets a letter and 5 days to change. If not the city goes in and cleans up. <br />With doing this they are holding health board hearings on many homes. If it doesn't pass their inspection they give the owner a few days to change it or face a large fine or they could of course sell the property to the city for next to nothing. The city will then burn it down, bury the rubble, and sell off the lot. Next problem, nobody can build there because of the expense of digging out the junk they have buried. Other problem there is not enough business in this town, nobody wants to build anything here so all of the rentals are being burned down. Their logic is the people who rent these older run down houses are poor, jobless people who do not contribute tax wise to the town. <br /><br />The last homes they condemned were almost like your saying. One man was committed to a mental hospital by law enforement after he attacked me with a utility knife. He had definate mental health problems. The town took this chance to condemn his home, convince his brother who had power of attorney to sell to them for a buck, and burn his home down all while he was committed for his mental illness. On their side his house was gone, termites, he tore out all supporting walls and never replaced them etc.<br /><br />Yesterday they found an older woman who has a disgustingly messy house. They committed her against her will through adult protective services to a nursing home and are going to burn her out in a few weeks. <br /><br />The government stealing property is NOT RIGHT!!! It may eventually be good for the city, raise the tax base for the area, clean up the neighborhood etc. BUT the poeple they don't like in that neighborhood will just move to another hood and live there. Emenant Domain is there for the good of the people, roads, flood control etc. Not to build condos or sell off. <br /><br />One more thing here a private group is trying. They have found out what everyone around here knows that there is an old Indian burial ground near one of the villages around here. They contacted the federal government and are trying to get them to condemn land under eminant domain and make it a national park. Isn't happening yet, but if it does it will take away thousands of acres of farm ground. Those farmers will fight that to the end.
Hell, in the long run its easier to just watch Oprah and throw down some beers. Its not like its my property they have their sites set on.