How does this relate to today ?In present day some people are forced to move out of their homes so that their can be construction for buildings, parking lot, higher costing condominiums, ect. Today this is called eminent domain, which means that the government can and does seize private property for public use to build roads, schools, courthouse, ect.
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What similar thing have happened ? |
Occurance: September 26, 2003
In Lakewood, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland a couple with the names of Jim and Joanne Saleet were being forced to sell their home they've lived in for 38 years to the mayor. They told her they plan on living there for the rest of their days and pass it on to their children. The mayor, Madeleine Cain plans on tearing down the Saleet's house, 55 other houses, 4 apartment buildings, and more than a dozen businesses. The people ask why if they just want to build high-priced condos and a high-end shopping mall, raising Lakewood's property tax base. The mayor told out 60 minutes that she sought out a developer for the project and that Lakewood simply needs more money. The mayor says "This is about Lakewood's future. Lakewood cannot survive without strengthened tax base. Is it right to consider this a public good? Absolutely." Since the area they live in has great veiws over the Rocky RIver the mayor thinks its the best place to build "better" things. The mayor says that the neighborhood they live in now is blight, but the Saleet's and others think otherwise. The Saleet's got lawyers and fought for their land and ended up winning. The lawyers described other eminent domain project. In Arizona, a hardware store owner convinced the City of Mesa to buy Randy Bailey's Brake Repair Shop, which has been standing for more than 30 years. He fought for his land and he also won. In New York, a man by the name of Stratford Wallace owned a corner for more than 100 years and was being forced to sell it to The New York TImes. Even though he fought he lost his corner in New York. |