Many years ago I was visiting Leola Price who lived across the road from Buzzy’s Country Store when a representative from the State Road Commission informed her that her house and some of her property was going to be taken for widening the new road. Leola pushed back by saying “What if I don’t agree to it?” The State Road guy smiled and said “Well, ma’am., the first time the bulldozer hits your house it’s only going to jar you. But the second time it hits, it’s going to move you.” That was my first introduction to the concept of eminent domain.
I heard a Michael Smerconish radio interview with a lady who fought the city of New London all the way to the Supreme Court after her house was taken through eminent domain. Susette Kelo and several of her neighbors sued the city when their property was taken, not for a road or another public usage, but for a private development click here.
In a controversial 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that New London had the right to take the property. The city wanted to raze the neighborhood and then let Pfizer Corporation purchase the property for their private use and development. The city’s rationale for doing so was that increased tax revenues would be generated from the Pfizer folks versus what Ms. Kelo and her neighbors were paying.
In a fitting irony, after New London won the case and razed the neighborhood, the Pfizer development fell through and the land that was supposed to generate more tax income now sits vacant. That karma lady again weighing in.
The story was recounted in a book that has subsequently been made into a movie titled Little Pink House.