Posted on 06/28/2005 11:04:00 AM PDT by ovrtaxt
A private developer has contacted the local government in Supreme Court Justice David Souter's hometown in New Hampshire asking that the property of the judge – who voted in favor of a controversial decision allowing a city to take residents' homes for private development – be seized to make room for a new hotel.
Yesterday, Logan Darrow Clements faxed a request to Chip Meany, the code enforcement officer of the town of Weare, N.H., seeking to start the application process to build a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road, the present location of Souter's home.
Wrote Clements: "Although this property is owned by an individual, David H. Souter, a recent Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, clears the way for this land to be taken by the government of Weare through eminent domain and given to my LLC for the purposes of building a hotel. The justification for such an eminent domain action is that our hotel will better serve the public interest as it will bring in economic development and higher tax revenue to Weare."
The Kelo v. City of New London decision, handed down Thursday, allows the New London, Conn., government to seize the homes and businesses of residents to facilitate the building of an office complex that would provide economic benefits to the area and more tax revenue to the city. Though the practice of eminent domain is provided for in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, this case is significant because the seizure is for private development and not for "public use," such as a highway or bridge. The decision has been roundly criticized among property-rights activists and limited-government commentators.
According to a statement from Clement, the proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Café" and include a museum, open to the public, "featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America." Instead of a Gideon's Bible in each room, guests will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged," the statement said.
Clements says the hotel must be built on this particular piece of land because it is a unique site – "being the home of someone largely responsible for destroying property rights for all Americans."
"This is not a prank" said Clements. "The town of Weare has five people on the Board of Selectmen. If three of them vote to use the power of eminent domain to take this land from Mr. Souter we can begin our hotel development."
Clements says his plan is to raise investment capital from wealthy pro-liberty investors and draw up architectural plans. These plans would then be used to raise additional capital for the project.
While Clements currently makes a living in marketing and video production, he tells WND he has had involvement in real estate development and is fully committed to the project.
"We will build a hotel there if investors come forward, definitely," he said.
Clements is the CEO of Freestar Media, LLC, which is dedicated to fighting "the most deadly and destructive force on the planet: abusive governments," the website states.
The activist says he is aware of the apparent conflict of someone who is strongly opposed to the Kelo decision using it to purposely oust an American from his property.
"I realize there is a contradiction, but we're only going to use it against people who advocated" the Kelo decision, Clements told WND. "Therefore, it's a case of retaliation, not initiation."
Clements says some people have already offered to put money into the project.
Related stories:
Property battle heads to states
High court's property decision stirs anger
Court rules cities can seize homes
No way!! That double-wide is the perfect tribute to our 42nd President.
That should read. Wish I had a incomplete edit checker. . .
I'm not sure what all the hullabaloo is about. While I don't think the decision is good from a policy standpoint, it seems that the decision is exactly what we have been screaming for - a non-activist stance by the court. If I have been reading the reports correctly, I think the decision is a deferral to a legislative determination of what is in the "public interest", rather than what some jurist thinks is the public interest.
Count me in, I'll make a donation on this one.... :)
I just read this story via drudge. Too perfect. I hope it happens. The free staters need to move to town and get three people elected to the city council/board and make it happen.
On my last project in Southern California it took over 5 years before we started with the site work. Now that I have retired and moved away from that socialist swamp, my very first project took less than three days to pull a permit and break ground.
I suspect that permit process in NH lies somewhere in between those extremes.
Semper Fi
No one would blame Justice Souter, except maybe members of the Supreme Court and those ungodly liberals who support the courts decisions to destroy America's Constitution, should Justice Souter arm himself with all the legal fire arms he can carry and defend his property unto death.
let's roll!
Quality
Now they need to go after the other 5 and KEEP going after them until those jackasses are forced OUT of this country.
I have long been of the opinion that the best way to cure liberalism is to force liberals to live under their own rules while protecting the rest of America from them.
Something like this is a perfect way to cure Souter's liberalism.
No kidding! If this actually happens, I'M THERE!!! :o)
This is great, let's turn these very same unconstitutional laws they want to impose on us right back at them. Not only should the five senile dorks on the Court be targeted for their land but every politician in the country who thinks our rights are expendable.
Ping
Isn't this something? This idea WILL spread!
"This is great, let's turn these very same unconstitutional laws they want to impose on us right back at them."
This is just the start. He's leading the way. Others will make similar proposals all over the country. Both parties will be involved. And like I said before, we need to buy their land up before they buy our's up.
The winner will be the one who buys and sells the most, getting the best bargains the fastest, so that side can buy up even more even faster.
If not here, it will happen somewhere. And not just once. It is vital that the conservatives make friends with local governments with greater emphasis very quickly, before the left does. Time is critical.
Perfect for the hermit Souter is.
Trajan88
If that begins to happen watch how fast the Fifth Amendment gets restored to its original intent.
I think it was a 5-4 decision so it would be the OTHER FOUR.
But don't let it stop at the SCOTUS, let it roll on to local liberals too!
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