The above is a quote from USA Today this week examining the harsh opinions against eminent domain. Opinions become the most heated when eminent domain is used for ” taking of private lands for private enterprise,” quoting Representative Will Metcalf.
Reflecting on Kelo, the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case permitting the use of eminent domain for economic development, its noted that not all public use projects move quickly.
In the case of Kelo, no construction in furtherance of the economic development project has occurred post-eminent domain.
- Ten years after the US Supreme Court’s decision,
- 15 years after the approval of the city’s development plan, and
- over 17 years since it was first proposed,
- there has been no new construction in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood of New London where the condemnations occurred.”