The nightmare state eminent domain process (First hand account)

Florida Sound Off ^ | 09-18-03 | Bob Stone

[AAABEST]

I know Bob well. He's a good guy who plays by the rules and helps his community. This is just gives people an idea of how the eminent domain process is NOT intended to be used.

You can FReep our RINO county commissioners all at once Here

[AAABEST]

bump

[EggsAckley]

This is truly disgusting. As a homeowner with extensive landscaping, I can sympathize with his frustration. That they treated his home as just a run-of-the-mill house is really a low blow.

[exmarine]

Thank you for posting this. It is state tyranny, plain and simple. Our founders believed that private property rights were one of the foundations of our Republic. Sadly, these have eroded along with all of our other rights as the govt has gained in power and scope. I believe we now live in a quasi-dictatorship and tyranny will continue to increase as all rights are further eroded until there is very little resemblence left to the Free Republic given to us by our forefathers.

[AAABEST]

This is truly disgusting.

That's exactly what it is. Not only did they take his house, they did it in a very undignified and un American way.

The sad thing is that eminent domain is increasingly being used as a political tool as opposed to a last resort and it's happening more frequently on a larger scale and taking on an uglier face than ever before

[exmarine]

If I didn't know the details, I might guess this took place in Russia or China.

[stubernx98]

Government for the people. I had purchased a rental house that was zoned multi family, and therefore paid a higher price. One year later, a City Planner, with a zip of his red pencil, and no rationale, changed the zoning to single family. He might as well have been Saddam at the height of his power. No recourse. Property value dropped $70,000.

There are a million stories out there, where a government entity did a number on somebody.

OTH, I have run accross lots of gevernment employees who were very helpful, and were just stuck in a system devised by corrupt politicians.

[TonyWojo]

Changing the form of government in the county so that the local government body will have more power in the state processes that affect local county issues and the citizens will have more voice and power to insure that their local elected representatives make those decisions necessary to protect the rights of citizens in these “takings of private property”.

No no more empowering this pathetic group of County Commishes. Citizens that is the key element.

[Apa6]

I am hearing a lot more about abuse of eminent domain.

I wonder how long it will take before someone does this to the wrong guy and he storms the council chambers and starts shooting.

Then and only then will someone actually pay attention to this and that is not the way we should change our process.

[Centurion2000]

A man without hope is a man without fear. You can FIGHT.

[shetlan]

"The experiences we have encountered and what we consider to be the failings of the private property rights laws supposedly designed to protect citizens in these takings of private property, will be the subject of a book we are in the process of writing..."

May they have success with this book.

FWIW: "Nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."...U.S. Constitution, Amendment five.

[Beck_isright]

Sadly, I do not see these abuses ending peacefully in our nation.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The victims of these patently unconstitutional takings need to refuse to leave peacefully, and let the violence be started by the takers. That will turn public opinion quickly. This is easier said than done, though. It requires transferring most of one's financial assets to another party, to keep them out of reach of government seizures; then one has to trust the transferee to keep doling out funds to the transferor for necessary living expenses.

It occurs to me that perhaps a special foundation needs to be set up for this purpose -- could be funded via fees of a small percentage of the transferred funds (the foundation would need legal and financial professionals on staff). Once it's fixed so they can't take your financial assets, the only leverage they really have to get people off their property is brute force.

[spodefly]

Dear Sirs / Madam:

I read with interest the story of the eminent domain proceeding against the property of Bob and Debby Stone of Naples -- here & here.

It is my fervent hope that each of you will rejoin the private sector after the next election. Short-sighted and heavy-handed decisions such as the ones you have made in this instance have turned the cornerstone of freedom in this country (private property and the associated rights) into a crumbling sandstone, and set all of us on a path to tyranny.

Regards,

[Beck_isright]

As Americans, we surrendered the concept of "private property" when we allowed the property tax to be created.

[AAABEST]

Very nicely written and a good idea to include the urls.

Disclosure: The people you are writing it to may be too stupid to understand what you wrote.

[spodefly]

True enough. Just to see how "private" your property is, miss a few tax payments on it.

[G.Mason]

Thanks for the ping.

I read it this morning at
http://www.cataction.com/forum/

Frustratingly sad.

[Seeking the truth]

John, I'm speechless.

BTW, we're leaving for Las Vegas on 10/1.

Good riddance, Florida. Sold our house.

Grass may not be greener but it sure is dryer! :)