By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, June 23, 2006 at 4:26 PM
Today marked the one-year anniversary of the controversial Kelo v. City of New London Supreme Court decision which upheld the right of governments to take private property for the purpose of giving it to other private interests. Labels: Development, Events
To mark what some have called "a dark day" in personal property rights, members and supporters of the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition (MEDAC) rallied in front of City Hall today.
Some in the crowd carried signs calling for the recall of aldermen that have used eminent domain in the City of St. Louis. "Recall Roddy," some shouted, referring to 17th Ward Ald. Joe Roddy. Third Ward resident Maxine Johnson carried a sign calling for the recall of 3rd Ward Ald. Freeman Bosley, Sr.
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6 Comments:
Man, What in the hell are people in office thinking, they own property too, would they like to see that go also, they wont be in office forever so if they dont look out for us not they could be bitten by the same laws later. See crap like this makes me just give up on the system, but at the same time its giving up on it that has allowed nuckel heads get in.
6/24/2006 1:12 AM
If I may ask an innocent question, what has Alderman Bosley done for his constiuents? Most of the wards up north look like former war zones. Yet, little or no development has occured, and they retain office.
There isn't really much need for eminent domain on the northside with the hundreds of brownfields where building used to be. It should be an infill dream to build higher density construction that will make areas on the northside a great place to live.
People aren't really anti-eminent domain, they are however, against the ways cities (the county is far worse) are approaching revivals.
6/24/2006 9:40 AM
"If City Hall put as much energy into the downtrodden as they do those making $100,000-$300,000 a year we'd be much better off."
The poor will always be displaced, because they are poor, thus politically weak.
If you want to do something about it, then promote smart development. Integrate lower income housing into higher income areas at a ratio of 8-1. One low income development per every middle to upper income development.
St. Louis needs to promote integration, not income segregation which is common in the suburbs. We also need to stay away from simple handouts.
The best solution for the poor is improving the SLPS and providing the poor with job training, along with neighborhood income integration.
Gentrification is an issue, however we cannot stop development, while pass out greenbacks to the poor. Education and strong communities are the solutions to poverty.
6/25/2006 8:22 PM
Doug, I normally agree with you but this time I see things a little different. when it comes to promote integration as you called it, st. louis does that already, alot of developments including lofts downtown have stipulations that lower income must occupy 35% of the building. alot, ALOT of big developments in the city are like that, the way you cant tell is if you see that federally funded "hud" sign on the fence when they are building, you might be shocked to see that some of these places are charging one person 1300/ a month on washington ave and down the hall its section 8. also in bosleys area, I dont believe those will sell! I pass by that development alot and I think they stop building and they never built out like they planned, another reason is that interest rates are up and the neighborhood is still ghetto. but they are trying hard to fix the neighborhood, most people buying property in the city are investors and as far as a bulk of people moving into the city, the only place I know where thats happening is in south city, not downtown or the northside. all that loft buying crap is hype, Ive said that before, trust me, the loft buildings are sold out because people are buying 5-8 lofts at one time and sitting on them looking to make some money at a later date. But big doug, this is it, the poor will only continue to be poor because they accumilate liablities, they spend retirement savings on jordans and tweenty inch wheels, expensive clothes and expensive sound systems, video games, etc. If you dont make alot of money already and you by stuff like that above you will always be poor! and its not the governments fault. but if you do like me and invest what you have in things like real estate, stocks, bonds, business ventures, and DONT BORROW MONEY AT ALL then you'll always "hear me on this one" you'll always have money comming in from all types of sources, and ontop of that you dont owe nobody because you didnt borrow to get it. Being poor is nothing more than 2 things and so is being rich, poor= bad decisions and a lack of financial educations! Rich= financial education and denial of worldly pleasures presently for future enjoyment!
6/26/2006 9:59 AM
Every day I work with people who are blue-collar workers that have been confronted with an unexpected calamity that's left them damn near destitute. It's all they have to pay the bills every month, let alone dabble in bonds or real estate.
Anonymous, your advice is good, but not practical for everyone.
6/26/2006 8:15 PM
Brian Ireland, If they had there emergency fund setup before they went investing they would have made it. You need insurances and emergency funds to protect you before you move foward with this, also certain assests can be listed under business names and in trust were you cant loose them them to anything, even lawsuits.
6/26/2006 11:37 PM
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