Hopefully we all remember the fight that Ed Osbourne fought for several years to prevent his business (an incredible auto repair shop) from being taken through eminent domain. The issue was that an extremely shitty Supreme Court decision had ruled that it was legal to seize property (with compensation) through eminent domain in order to hand it off to another party for economic development. The court case was Kelo v. City of New London.
The unfortunate plaintiff, Susette Kelo, had her property taken from her in order for Pfizer to expand operations in New London, CT. The Wall Street Journal delivers the punchline:
Now, four years after that decision gave Susette Kelo’s land to private developers for a project including a hotel and offices intended to enhance Pfizer Inc.’s nearby corporate facility, the pharmaceutical giant has announced it will close its research and development headquarters in New London, Connecticut.
…
While Ms. Kelo and her neighbors lost their homes, the city and the state spent some $78 million to bulldoze private property for high-end condos and other “desirable” elements. Instead, the wrecked and condemned neighborhood still stands vacant, without any of the touted tax benefits or job creation.
As much as I am loathe to agree with the WSJ on anything, they are right on this. It is exactly this sort of corporate whoring of government that must stop. It is useful to point out that across the street from Osbourne Automotive are 20 some beautiful townhomes. The last time I was over there, many were still unsold and Buccini-Pollin had to auction off 1/3 of their condos last month.
Thank you, Governor Markell, for your role in fixing eminent domain in Delaware. h/t Roy Munson