Posted on 12/21/2006 8:42:35 AM PST by Graybeard58
NEW LONDON -- The woman at the center of a national battle over property rights has sent some not-so-joyous tidings to people involved in taking her house to make way for private development.
Susette Kelo's holiday cards feature a snowy image of her pink house and a message that reads, in part, "Your houses, your homes, your family, your friends. May they live in misery that never ends. I curse you all. May you rot in hell. To each of you I send this spell."
The cards were conceived and produced by a friend of Kelo's and sent to city officials and members of New London's development agency.
Kelo said she also considered sending the cards to five U.S. Supreme Court justices who ruled in June 2005 that New London had the right to take homes in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood to make way for a riverfront project slated to include condominiums, a hotel and office space.
On Wednesday, after news accounts carried details about the cards, Kelo apologized in a statement released by the Institute for Justice, which represented the homeowners in their legal battle.
"My card was meant as much in humor as it was in frustration," she said in the statement. "What I wrote shouldn't be taken as my literal wish for anyone. I'm heartbroken that this will be my last Christmas in Fort Trumbull and what I wrote rose out of that fact, but the bottom line is, it was over the top."
Kelo, one of the last holdouts, earlier this year accepted a $442,155 settlement, more than $300,000 above the appraised value of her home in 2000. Her pink cottage will be moved elsewhere in the city. She has until June 15 to move.
"It's amazing anyone could be so vindictive when they've made so much money," said Gail Schwenker-Mayer, a supporter of the development project who received one of the cards.
New London Development Corp. member Reid Burdick said he put the card on his mantel with his other Christmas greetings.
"I think the poor woman has gone around the bend," he said. "I haven't gotten any mail from her in years. I still feel bad for Susette. The sorry part of this is that the things she's angry about were not done to be mean-spirited toward her personally."
Fellow NLDC member George Milne, a former top executive at Pfizer Inc., called the card "immensely childish."
"It's sort of sad she elected to do this," Milne said. "We were trying to do things for the city. It was nothing personal."
Kelo, a nurse who handles lead paint and lead poisoning cases for the city of New London, said the card was her idea.
"This all could have been solved and ended many years ago," she said. "They didn't have to do what they did to us, and I will never forget. These people can think what they want of me. I will never, ever forget what they did."
The developer has little blame here. it is the politicians that the developer bought that are responsible.
No. Both the corrupt politician and the one who pays the bribe should equally be hung in public. I don't care if it's only ten bucks.
Send me $33.00 and I'll put a curse on anyone you want, LOL! What a racket. God Bless America!
They tried. They were shouted down. From the looks of the bootlickers responses on this thread, they'd still be shouted down today.
And people wonder why so many think this country is so screwed up...
"Kelo, one of the last holdouts, earlier this year accepted a $442,155 settlement, more than $300,000 above the appraised value of her home in 2000. Her pink cottage will be moved elsewhere in the city. She has until June 15 to move."
Oh, for Pete's Sake. I understand the underpinnings of this situation, but this woman was MORE than compensated for her inconvenience.
But then, I see my current home and every piece of real estate I've owned before it as an investment. She made an amazing return on her dollar. Her anger is going to eat her alive.
"Oh, for Pete's Sake. I understand the underpinnings of this situation, but this woman was MORE than compensated for her inconvenience."
I would challenge you to find a waterfront lot in the north east for 400K...
The problem with me is that I read the article first and than post right away and then I start reading what my smart FRiends post with their experience and knowledge that I don't have. It makes me look ridiculous most of the time, but I still get a hell of a lot out of it at the end.
She should have.
Kelo apologized . . .
She shouldn't have.
Here's a waterfront home that maybe she could buy... Found it on Google.
Spectacular Waterfront Estate
Pleasant Lake, New London
• A rare opportunity to own one of the region’s most coveted properties
• Comprising more than 1200’ of shoreline on pristine Pleasant Lake
• Set on almost 4 acres in the quaint New England village of Elkins, this one-of-a-kind property is just minutes from the center of New London
• Views of the lake & mountains from all directions
• Owned & treasured by a single family since 1930, “The Point” has been operated by them as 8 individual vacation cottages for generations
Offered at $5,500,000
Call for a prospectus & to arrange a tour of this extraordinary property!
She was FORCED to move her house against her will, so that her property could be seized by private developers who will make a heck of lot more than $300,000 profit from her portion of the seized land.
and she'll make a heck of a lot more from book and movie deals.
"It's amazing anyone could be so vindictive when they've made so much money," said Gail Schwenker-Mayer, . . . .
Guess the 9/11 widows who made a bundle should be all kissy-face to the muzzies who destroyed their lives.
Not a problem, necessarily. As long as you are willing to engage in genuine debate (as it appears you are), then you are simply being an opinionated human.
I, myself, have been accused of being an opinionated human. It's quite maddening... I'm not entirely certain I'm human!!! ;-P
There are some things being missed here.
First, the "appraised" value that was quoted was quite old, a current appraisal would certainly be much higher.
Second, these appraisals for government takings are invariably low. Impartial appraisals come in higher.
Third, appraised value is not market value. Last I checked, the market value of my house was almost twice the appraised value.
Fourth, part of the value of your property, is that it is "your property". At no time in the last 15 years have I been willing to sell my house for its current market value, that's why I still own it.
Fifth, Ms. Kelo had to fight for several years, just to get a more reasonable payment.
There are other points, but these should be enough to illustrate that she got no financial windfall.
There are really two big problems here.
First, is that the property was taken for "public purpose" (increased tax revenue), rather than "public use" (road, school, flood control, etc.) as required by the Constitution.
The worse problem has always been the case with "takings". The Constitution requires "just compensation", but doesn't define it. In practice this has always been a lowball amount defined by the government doing the taking.
"Just compensation" should start with a fair appraisal made by a disinterested third party, that takes into account current market value, and any doubts should be resolved in favor of the person who's property is being taken. However, the person should also be compensated for the value of having control of their property taken from them. This amount should probably be at least equal to the first value.
If "just compensation" were defined to make it truely "just", these conflicts would virtually disappear. Of course, it would cost a lot more for governments to take people's property, after making these changes, but if this ever happens to you, you will appreciate the fairness in this.
you're also skipping the part where they're just buying the LAND. she's keeping her house.
"$300,000 above the appraised value . . . . in 2000."
How much have home values increased since 2000?
My brother is located near a refinery in a 1300 sqft home in California that he bought in 1998 for $180,000. He just spun that home for $380,000.
You gotta love press spin.
I went to school in New London. I saw how this went down, and I can't believe these idiots on the development commission don't get it.
As for her whining about the situation, I'd say she's justified.
Well, then, in her own mind, she's screwed. I'd be counting and re-investing my massive WINDFALL and getting on with my life. But that's just me. I'm good at rolling with the punches life hands out.
How far back do we take this stuff? I mean, if it's a temperate location on water, why aren't there still Native American encampments there? Who did her Little Pink Cottage displace years ago? Time marches on.
You can find thousands of places on this planet that have been replaced by progress of one kind or another.
The lesson here? Make a lot of noise, get a lot of money...and you can still act like a jerk. ;)
Rush is talking about this right this minute...he sounds like he's siding with her.
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