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City wants back rent from Kelo residents
world net daily ^ | August 20, 2005

Posted on 08/20/2005 4:01:48 AM PDT by bad company

This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows. To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45851

Saturday, August 20, 2005

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS LAND WAS YOUR LAND City wants back rent from Kelo residents Expects homeowners who lost case to pay hundreds of thousands

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 20, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com In the adding insult to injury category, the city officials that triumphed over a group of Connecticut homeowners in a landmark Supreme Court property-rights case are expecting those residents to pay the local government rent dating back to the year 2000.

The June 23 Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London gave the town the approval to seize the residents' homes and transfer them to a private party for development of an office complex. In the highly controversial decision, the justices ruled 5-4 that the economic development resulting from the eminent domain action qualified as "public use" under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

The city now says that since it won the case, the homeowners actually have been living on city property since 2000 when it first began condemnation procedures against them, so they must pay back rent – to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"It's a new definition of chutzpah: Confiscate land and charge back rent for the years the owners fought confiscation," wrote Jonathan O'Connell in the Fairfield County Weekly.

Not only is the city demanding rent, but the buyout offers on the table are based on the market rate as it was in 2000, before most of the growth in the current real-estate bubble.

The New London Development Corporation, the semi-public organization hired by the city to facilitate the deal, first addressed the rent issue in a June 2004 letter to residents, calling the alleged debt retroactive "use and occupancy" payments.

"We know your clients did not expect to live in city-owned property for free, or rent out that property and pocket the profits, if they ultimately lost the case," the agency said. It warned that "this problem will only get worse with the passage of time," and that the city was prepared to sue for the money if need be.

The Kelo case is named after Susette Kelo, who owns a single-family house in New London with her husband. Kelo was told she would owe around $57,000 in rent.

"I'd leave here broke," Kelo told the weekly. "I wouldn't have a home or any money to get one. I could probably get a large-size refrigerator box and live under the bridge."

Matt Dery owns four houses on the building site, including the home his 87-year-old mother was born in and still lives in. Dery's past-due rent, according to the city, exceeds $300,000.

It remains to be seen if a suit will be filed against the residents.

"From a political standpoint, the city might be better off trying to reach some settlement with the homeowners," Jeremy Paul, an associate UConn law dean who teaches property law, told the paper.

Related stories:

Souter-home seizer to meet with residents

Effort to take Breyer's home moving ahead

Justice Breyer: 'Not all our decisions are right'

Eminent domania comes to the movies

Eminent domania!

Souter-home campaign targets pols

Movement builds to seize Souter home

Souter suitor wants a real hotel company

Supreme Court justice faces boot from home?

Property battle heads to states

High court's property decision stirs anger

Court rules cities can seize homes

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: civilwarii; dictatorship; eminentdomain; getarope; kelo; nukethebastards; propertyrights
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To: bad company
The city now says that since it won the case, the homeowners actually have been living on city property since 2000 when it first began condemnation procedures against them, so they must pay back rent – to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Just waiting for the headlines about a lynching party...............

41 posted on 08/20/2005 7:29:07 AM PDT by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: the gillman@blacklagoon.com

"It still only happens in third world countries."

We're getting there swiftly.


42 posted on 08/20/2005 7:30:47 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: Mrs Mark

"The root cause of the problem here is the MORONS who ELECTED the flea brained officials in the first place. The officials cant help it, since they are just puss filled infections on society, they are just doing what comes natural."

I was reading in our local paper this morning that one of our local "leaders" wants to be re-elected in order to "re-vitalize" the downtown area. What she really means is she wants to run the old mom-and-pop businesses out (they've already done that with some of them) and move her financial friends in. Greed knows know bounds. Greed seems to be our countrys greatest product.


43 posted on 08/20/2005 7:34:35 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: dljordan

Been there for a while, now.

People are just starting to realize it.


44 posted on 08/20/2005 7:40:59 AM PDT by the gillman@blacklagoon.com (Google CFR North American Community)
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To: Tennessee_Bob
"I can't say what I'm thinking. Not on here, at least."

Something along the lines of " what is the current commodity market value of lead "? I can't say any more, either.

45 posted on 08/20/2005 7:44:11 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe
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To: dljordan
I was reading in our local paper this morning that one of our local "leaders" wants to be re-elected in order to "re-vitalize" the downtown area.

When they say "Re-vitalize" they really mean transferring economic activity away from some other location.

If you want to see economic development, take a section of land somewhere, and remove all zoning restrictions, and allow for complete ownership, no ADA, no smoking restrictions (save for basic fire safety related issues), deed restrictions if desired, etc. Amazing things could happen if the do gooders got out of the way. They are half the problem.

46 posted on 08/20/2005 8:16:15 AM PDT by Mark was here (My tag line was about to be censored.)
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To: bad company

[insert expletive] outrage bump


47 posted on 08/20/2005 9:11:27 AM PDT by Kevin OMalley (No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
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To: RaceBannon; scoopscandal; 2Trievers; LoneGOPinCT; Rodney King; sorrisi; MrSparkys; monafelice; ...
Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

48 posted on 08/20/2005 9:21:07 AM PDT by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
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To: bikepacker67

Would it be murder, or a form of self-defense? I say the latter.


49 posted on 08/20/2005 9:45:35 AM PDT by Jason_b (Not asking for trouble, just asking.)
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To: bad company

Unreal.


50 posted on 08/20/2005 9:50:41 AM PDT by Jonx6
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To: bad company

Talk about rubbing salt in a wound!

I never thought I would live to see the day something like this would happen in this once great, freedom loving country.


51 posted on 08/20/2005 10:28:01 AM PDT by somedaysoon
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To: MarkL
That the city could use eminent domain to condemn any property 100 yards on either side of the proposed tracks to give to developers.

Not unlike how the federal government granted land, in the territories, to the railroads that led to the near extermination of the buffalo and the Indians. Now the white man preys upon himself.

52 posted on 08/20/2005 10:53:45 AM PDT by elbucko
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To: dljordan
What she really means is she wants to run the old mom-and-pop businesses out (they've already done that with some of them) and move her financial friends in.

And if one takes note, it can be seen that the minute a city or county government goes "co-ed", somebody is going to loose their home, farm or business "for the betterment of the community". Women politicians have less of a fear of going to prison for "interest conflicts" than do the men.

53 posted on 08/20/2005 11:00:43 AM PDT by elbucko
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To: somedaysoon

Too few folks are willing to fight for their freedom....they think "others" will handle it. Complacency Kills Freedom.


54 posted on 08/20/2005 11:13:22 AM PDT by Feiny (My dinghy is bigger than your whole boat.)
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To: bad company

Language is inadequate to express the depths of my contempt for these vile, bloodless scum.


55 posted on 08/20/2005 11:20:00 AM PDT by FreedomAvatar (Gravity is only a theory - Teach the controversy)
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To: feinswinesuksass
Complacency Kills Freedom.

I agree. Freedom is merely a concept, that can be "killed" by simply forgetting it.

56 posted on 08/20/2005 11:22:42 AM PDT by Mark was here (My tag line was about to be censored.)
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To: bad company

Can't wait to hear what the Isralis say when hamas sends them the bill.


57 posted on 08/20/2005 12:33:28 PM PDT by fella (In law nothing is certain but the expense. - S. Butler)
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To: bad company
If the State is taking the land and paying the price the land was worth in 2000 then the people should demand that the payment be made in gold and silver coin based on 2000 gold and silver prices. Article 1 Section 10 US Constitution: '..no State shall make anything but gold and silver COIN a payment of debt.'
58 posted on 08/20/2005 1:20:50 PM PDT by Chewbacca (A naked man has few secrets, but a flayed man's got none.)
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To: Allosaurs_r_us; Abram; AlexandriaDuke; Annie03; Baby Bear; bassmaner; Bernard; BJClinton; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
59 posted on 08/20/2005 1:29:26 PM PDT by freepatriot32 (Deep within every dilemma is a solution that involves explosives)
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To: abbi_normal_2; adam_az; Alamo-Girl; Alas; alfons; alphadog; AMDG&BVMH; amom; AndreaZingg; ...
Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

List of Ping lists

60 posted on 08/20/2005 1:30:15 PM PDT by freepatriot32 (Deep within every dilemma is a solution that involves explosives)
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