As if it wasn’t already bad enough that their homes were being taken away to build a luxury hotel and conference center, the homeowners who fought the City of New London all the way to the Supreme Court are now being told they owe back rent for living on the property while the case was pending.
The Fairfield Weekly is reporting that:
Those who believe in the adage “when it rains, it pours” might take the tale of the plaintiffs in Kelo v. New London as a cue to buy two of every animal and a load of wood from Home Depot. The U.S. Supreme Court recently found that the city’s original seizure of private property was constitutional under the principal of eminent domain, and now New London is claiming that the affected homeowners were living on city land for the duration of the lawsuit and owe back rent. It’s a new definition of chutzpah: Confiscate land and charge back rent for the years the owners fought confiscation.
This part is just disgusting. If it were a private corporation trying to do this the cries of “greed, greed, greed” would be ringing out. Instead, its the government trying to do it. The lesson, of course, is clear: don’t fight city hall because, if you lose, we’ll really make you pay.
Like I said, disgusting. But, wait, it gets worse.
Moreover, the homeowners are being offered buyouts based on the market rate as it was in 2000 .
My, how convenient. Property values have increased at historic rates in the past five years and the City of New London decides that it will pay fair market value based on the value before that run-up in real estate values.
By my count, the Kelo property owners have now been screwed over three times. First, when the city announced it was taking their property and giving it to Pfizer. Second, by the Supreme Court in June. And, lastly, by the City of New London yet again. Anyone want to try for four ?
Via Hit & Run
