The shit storm starts - why eminent domain is a great concept.

:sarcasm:

:mad:


Freeport moves to seize 3 properties
Court's decision empowers the city to acquire the site for a new marina
By THAYER EVANS
Chronicle Correspondent

FREEPORT - With Thursday's Supreme Court decision, Freeport officials instructed attorneys to begin preparing legal documents to seize three pieces of waterfront property along the Old Brazos River from two seafood companies for construction of an $8 million private boat marina.

The court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that cities may bulldoze people's homes or businesses to make way for shopping malls or other private development. The decision gives local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue.

"This is the last little piece of the puzzle to put the project together," Freeport Mayor Jim Phillips said of the project designed to inject new life in the Brazoria County city's depressed downtown area.

Over the years, Freeport's lack of commercial and retail businesses has meant many of its 13,500 residents travel to neighboring Lake Jackson, which started as a planned community in 1943, to spend money. But the city is hopeful the marina will spawn new economic growth.

"This will be the engine that will drive redevelopment in the city," City Manager Ron Bottoms said.

Lee Cameron, director of the city's Economic Development Corp., said the marina is expected to attract $60 million worth of hotels, restaurants and retail establishments to the city's downtown area and create 150 to 250 jobs. He said three hotels, two of which have "high interest," have contacted the city about building near the marina.


Complete story

WoW! :wow: A whole 150 to 250 jobs will be created (most likely at minimum wage)

I don't provide 150-250 jobs, even at minimum wage. Bulldoze here and put up a WalMart!! go team go!!

Thanks for posting this; the people who think it's just peachy for the city to take anyone's property and give it to someone else because they have more money need a reminder of what really happens.

Redstone

issue. I think it was on Friday evening. Let me tell you, this ruling is from the pits of hell. The NOW show investigated what was going on in communities near and/or on the East Coast. It interviewed some families who tried to fight back. It was HEARTWRENCHING. None of the properties were "blighted".... Whole neighborhoods up in dust for what? Roads? Schools? Hospital? Noooooooooo. It was for Upscale Condos, shopping enterprises, waterfront establishments, and other revenue generating developments etc.

If you can find the documentary at PBS/NOW, I recommend you go take a look.

Don't they?

<Thurston Howell the III> "Look, lovey... they're finally offering docking rights in Freeport now; and at a steal if I might add".

"Oh, I don't know, Howie... you know how those brown people always frightened me".

"Yes, lovey but they do know how to serve an excellent margarita".

"Perhaps I could give Senator Gasbag a call and demand a smattering of Irish be shipped over and hired". "He does owe me a favor".

"Oh, Howie... you're always such the humanitarian and caring person"

<blows kiss>

</Thurston Howell the III>

...the full report makes it clear this is gentrification personified. And, having worked as a commercial fisherman myself, I know all too well that yacht-shots (we used a somewhat coarser term) like Howie and Lovey will complain bitterly about the "stench and intrusion" of the commercial boats (not to mention the high jinx of the rowdy, pirate-smile crews), to such an extent the city will eventually withdraw its let-them-cake offer to lease back the processing plant to its original owners. This isn't about the tax base -- it's about making America safe(r) for plutocracy.

Beware of developers that bring stories of increased tax revenue and "upscale shopping" to your local city government. Fight it tooth and nail, denounce it at the top of your lungs. These developers are carpetbaggers and will ruin neighborhoods if they get the cooperation of the Mayor and council to go along with them. Whether it is good for the people living there already no one seems to care as long as there is money to be made.

...about the ED decision. Imagine this: the Intergalactic Ripoff Planned Obsolescence Monopoly has a parts factory in Smalltown, USA. It employs 500 people at union wages, 50 executives with the typical compensation packages an average of 500 times those of the unionized workers. IRPOM want's to sell the factory; it is no longer profitable enough. To save their jobs, the workers hock their pensions, re-mortgage their futures etc. and buy the plant. Success! But then -- in a secret deal made beforehand with plant management -- the Smalltown government invokes eminent domain, condemns the plant, shuts it down, fires all the workers -- and sells the property back to IRPOM. Which -- now that the union is busted -- offers to hire all the displaced workers back at minimum wage.

Think about it: and don't tell me that, under the BushCo economy, it can't or won't happen.

hope i make it...

Big surprise.

What are the owners of the seafood companies going to do? What if they've been in that business for years. Don't they kind of need to be on the waterfront.

This is a nightmare coming true...