And we have the "living, breathing Constitution" to thank for that. COTUS says whatever the Supremes say it says, even if it doesn't.
Posted on 12/07/2005 10:26:49 PM PST by vrwc0915
It's called Re ver a and it is a great place to stay away from.
no please send me info on that
I would lay the blame for this problem at the feet of the voters who elected the local government. The crooks are doing their stealing in the name of those who elected them. Unfortunately the names of those who elected this government are hidden from public view, just as a robber covers his face before entering a bank.
So far this activity has greatly improved life here in Riviera Beach and my neighbors and I are eagery awaiting being bought out.
Thank you SCOTUS!
This time, according to a witness, police responded to villagers throwing explosives by firing "very rapid bursts of gunfire" over a period of several hours both nights. Some villagers reported seeing police carrying AK-47 assault rifles, one of the Chinese military's standard-issue weapons. There were no reports of violence Thursday night. The villagers were protesting land confiscations in Dongzhou, a community of 10,000 residents, 14 miles southeast of Shanwei city, in Guangdong province near Hong Kong. In their confrontation with authorities, they also stepped up their tactics by using homemade bombs and explosive charges that local fishermen normally use to stun fish in the adjacent South China Sea. In previous riot reports, attacks against police were limited to throwing stones and bricks or setting fire to official vehicles.
03-08-2005 - Uniform Municipal Elections
Where was the local outrage back in March?
No, I am saying that a healthy majority of those who voted as recently as this past March put / kept the Mayor in office. The county web site doesn't give turnout statistics for the towns but I suspect there are more than 5,090 registered voters in Riviera Beach. Yes it is a Constitutional Republic but you have SCOTUS deeming the taking as constitutional and therefore the only recourse left is through the ballot box. I assume most of the 6,000 residents facing the taking are registered voters so it seems highly likely that as a block they could nip this in the bud locally. But they didn't. I sympathize with their plight but only to a point if they are not motivated enough to cast a ballot.
Yes, otherwise you would not have been flagged to my post #36.
You and your neighbors are free to sell your property, if your deal depends on the government forcing others to sell their property, you are merely profiting from a deal made with the devil.
What good is integrity, after all you cant deposit it in the bank.
There is a similar issue before the Anchorage planning commission. 150 private properties are proposed to be taken for developing a coastal trail. Whether a coastal trail would do anything to alleviate the intense traffic crowding on the existing roads is doubtful, perhaps ten bicycles a day might use the trail for the daily commute in good weather. It's a wonderfully expensive plan for exercise and contemplation of nature on the weekends by the few residents that would use it. Hearing Tuesday.
This From The Washington Times:
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 .
Nobody is paying much attention to this eminent domain case. Too bad. Wait until it reaches other communities which will inevitably happen.
If states don't enact laws to counter these illegal land grabs we will be closer to the socialistic society the Democrats want.
South Africa did the same to the townships. Once land became desireable, they broke up the community and gave it to whites. It did happen to be fully racist there, not just rich-poor, but the same principle is in effect. Some people's desires are more important than other people's needs. I will have to post again after doing a google on Cape Town to provide more details. Bottom line, the USA is following in the footsteps of aparthied South Africa. South Africa has changed their ways and now recognises that what happened to these people was wrong, 'economic development' does not condone injustice.
And we have the "living, breathing Constitution" to thank for that. COTUS says whatever the Supremes say it says, even if it doesn't.
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