Free Republic

(Waterford, California) The City Council has voted to seize property for public projects three times since 2004, and it's still paying for those decisions. Waterford pursued eminent domain — its right to take land for the public good — to acquire land for a planned government center, a river park and its second stoplight. Each decision landed the city in court because property owners wanted more money than the city offered. One businessman, Ron Coleman, forced the city to pay more than double what it originally offered to buy his used car lot on Highway 132. The city paid $300,000...