Joni Mitchell speaks again
they paved paradise and put up a parking lot
~ Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi
The Supreme Court ruled that it was ok for the city of New London, CT to seize a bunch of homes that are simply in the way of their redevelopment plans that support Pfizer Pharmaceuticals $300 million plan to build a research facility nearby.
During oral arguments before the court, it emerged that the land parcels at issue were earmarked for office space and “support” for the park or marina, possibly meaning a parking lot.
Meanwhile,
Susette Kelo, who moved into Fort Trumbull in 1997 and made major improvements to her house, which she prized for its water view…and
Wilhelmina Dery, who was born in her Fort Trumbull house in 1918 and has lived in it with her husband for the past 60 years… the home, originally purchased by her grandmother, has been in her family for more than a century…
among others, are simply out on their derrieres.
Is this big bully capitalism or what? It sets a horrible precendent. These homes were not structurally condemned in any way. They were just in the way of those with more money and more power. This is just not good.
HT: Michelle Malkin
June 25th, 2005 at 10:48 pm
That’s really a shame…and strange too, because there are several areas of Connecticut that won’t allow any new building at all…there are some places that won’t let public companies come in, won’t let people build a house or sometimes even buy if they are not going to be there long-term…we have some friends who just moved back home (CT) after a long stint in Houston…they had a heck of a time finding a place to build on, so they ended up buying an old house on a HUGE lot that they have to remodel…with promises to never ever move…(if they can force that!)
By the way…that’s one of my favorite songs