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March 31, 2006

A Closer Look: The Rhetoric of Eminent Domain Abusers

CastleWatch
(Online Publication of the Castle Coalition, the Institute for Justice's property-rights campaign)

Straight from the Eminent Domain Abuse Playbook:

"We are going to rescue and relocate individuals and we will put them in a better position than they’re living in now."
— Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown

"I can’t let the public be raped by greedy owners."
— California city official, Dom Betro

Eminent Domain -- "the only thing that makes both sides sit down and negotiate in good faith."
— Frenchtown, Mo., City Council President Rory Riddler

Throughout the country, defenders of eminent domain for private development are increasingly using such outrageous rhetoric in an effort to undermine citizens’ overwhelming opposition to their projects.

link

NoLandGrab: We still get choked up by the well-worn familiarity of the perennial, "Eminent domain will only be used as a last resort." [Read: If we can't make you sell your house, we'll take it (as a last resort), so you'd be better off selling it to us in the first place.]

Posted by lumi at March 31, 2006 12:27 PM