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Florida's Riviera Beach is a poor, predominantly black, coastal community that intends to revitalize its economy by using eminent domain, if necessary, to displace about 6,000 local residents and build a billion-dollar waterfront yachting and housing complex...

(Mayor) Brown said Riviera Beach is doing what the city of New London, Conn., is trying to do and what the U.S. Supreme Court said is proper in its ruling June 23 in Kelo v. City of New London. That decision upheld the right of government to seize private properties for use by private developers for projects designed to generate jobs and increase the tax base. "Now eminent domain is affecting people who never had to deal with it before and who have political connections," Mr. Brown said. "But if we don't use this power, cities will die."

But in another article posted August 24,2005 on local news channel WPEC News 12:

Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown is proceeding with his lawsuit against his own city and it's redevelopment agency. He's suing for excluding him from redevelopment discussions. Those discussions include plans for a major waterfront revitalization project. Brown wants those plans halted until his lawsuit is settled. Brown also wants the court to stop the city from barring him from a seat on the dais. Wednesday, a judge told the mayor he'll have to re-file his complaint. Brown and the redevelopment board will be back in court on September 8.

What is going on in this small burb of Palm Beach? Maybe this study presented by THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING dated The Spring Of 2004 explains the problem in it's conclusion:

Conclusion:

After a thorough review, it has been determined that the City of Rivera Beach has many different programs and several organizations that assist with the implementation of those programs. There is a vast difference in the number of community development programs in place and the number of economic development programs in place. Specifically, the City does not fund any economic development initiatives. Rather, the City concentrates all of its efforts on the community development side. The Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Community Development Department funds various economic development initiatives through LISC or the Northwest Rivera Beach CRC that are implemented in the City. The City of Riviera Beach is effectively addressing the community development issues, but lacks a focus on the human element.

Further, the City should seek to obtain additional grant funds that will allow implementation of economic development initiatives. It has also been determined that numerous economic development initiatives exist through Palm Beach County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other organizations. However, the City of Riviera Beach is not participating in these initiatives. Therefore, its residents are deprived of services that could assist in improving their quality of life. Finally, the City should re-evaluate and redevelop its 30 community and economic development strategy and develop a plan for full implementation of the new strategy.

The Inlet Harbor Redevelopment Plan is a well-prepared plan. However, the City lacks the ability to implement the initiatives due to insufficient funding. Specifically, the City has not provided the necessary funding to the CRA to allow it to provide incentives to obtain commitments from developers to build in the CRA redevelopment area.

The CRA has found that developers are not willing to utilize their money for projects without a match from the City. The CRA is now depending on gaining additional tax increments from two new projects. Those projects, the Marina Grande Condominiums at Inlet Harbor and the Singer Island Condominiums Limited, are currently being built. The CRA will be able to utilize the Tax Increments from these projects to obtain bonds that will allow it to begin implementation of additional initiatives included in the Inlet Harbor plan. This strategy further delays the implementation of the plan.

As a result of the CRA’s Inlet Harbor Plan and the relocation of U.S. 1, residents and businesses will become displaced as the plan moves forward. The CRA has developed a relocation plan that meets the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards for relocation. Residents and businesses will have two options for relocation. Option 1 will allow the CRA to purchase the property of residents and businesses desiring to relocate outside or inside the City. Option 2 will allow residents or businesses to relocate within the CRA area.

Will affordable housing exist in the CRA? Conceptually, the CRA plans to provide affordable housing in the redevelopment area. Some of the properties included in the Inlet Harbor Plan will provide opportunities for affordable housing. It has not been determined how much affordable housing will be available or whether it will be enough to accommodate the 31 need. Will residents be able to qualify for and afford to purchase the newer properties? The CRA says “yes”.

Finally, the City of Riviera Beach should carefully re-evaluate its community and economic development strategy while continuing to implement current initiatives. The City should commit funding to this effort and also seek additional funding. The City should continue to collaborate with non-profit organizations and the County to leverage resources to continue to improve the quality of life for all residents.

This Report was written long before The Kelo Decision by the Supreme Court.

Another article from the Palm Beach Post.

Some more from Mayor Brown on the 2000 Election:

Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown expressed amazement "that we have a candidate for the highest office in the land who would say with a straight face that we shouldn’t count every vote."

Oh, I forgot to mention that post is from the PWW .