October 05, 2005

Kelo Allows a City to be Moved

How important are Supreme Court justices? They issue rulings that have consequences that affect every American. The Kelo decision is allowing a Florida city to move 6000 people from their homes.

Officials of a poor, predominantly black Florida town plan to relocate about 6,000 residents to make room for a billion-dollar yachting and housing complex.

The coastal community of Rivera Beach in Palm Beach County may use eminent domain, if necessary, to claim 400 acres of land for the project, The Washington Times reported Monday.

"This is a community that's in dire need of jobs, which has a median income of less than $19,000 a year," Mayor Michael Brown said. "If we don't use this power, cities will die."

The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the use of eminent domain for economic purposes, ruling against a group of New London, Conn., homeowners fighting a proposed corporate development.

"Florida Town Plans to Use Eminent Domain"