Rally to Stop Emminent Domain Abuse

For years, eminent domain abuse has plagued Americans from coast to coast. From 1998 to 2002, the Institute for Justice documented more than 10,000 condemnations for private gain—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This Friday, June 23, at 7:30pm at the corner of Clifton and Ludlow Ave (at the fountain across the street from the Skyline) there will be a rally to commerorate the anniversary of Kelo vs New London decision, and to honor those that have forced from their property as a result of Emminent Domain abuse.

Could your house be next?

• Currnetly, Carl and Joy Gamble of Norwood are fighting to keep their home of over 30 years. It seems that a developer with over $500 million in assets wants to build a shopping plaza and condos on their property. The city of Norwood thinks that this is groupnds to take ones property and to give it to a millionare.

• Emma Dimasi is being forced from her home of almost 50 years. The city of Cincinnati wants to re-route Dixmyth Rd so that Good Samaratan hospital can build a new wing.

Could you or a loved one be the next to be forced from their home?

Not only homeowners, but also small business owners are not safe.

• When the Contemporary Arts Center wanted to expand, a family business of over 90 years was forced out. The famous Batesakes hat store and dry cleaner was threatened with emminent domain to be forced out. Rather than fight a costly battle, they opted to move to a nearby location, however, their new location prevented them from offering dry cleaning services.

• Also in Norwood, Wilker Design was forced to re-locate so a developer could build a shopping plaza to accomidate national chain retailers. As Mary Beth Wilker mentioned, business was so good she did not have to advertise or activly market her business. She attributes her success in large part to her location. Apparently a sucessful small business is not good enough for Norwood, so she was forced to move and rebuild her client base.

• In San Diego, Ahmad Mesdaq’s elegant and profitable cigar and coffee bar, Gran Havana Cigar and Coffee Lounge, was condemned in June 2005 to make way for a Marriott Renaissance Hotel (this was done one year after Mr Mesdaq spent over $1,000,000 to remodel his business). Another Marriott is located within view of his property.

Emminent domain abuse is everybody's problem. Small businesses are hurt by this because they are being forced out to accomidate well connected businesses. Senior citizens are being forced out of their home. Property rights in Cincinnati, and across the country, are being trampled. Your house, your business are not safe until this stops.