EMINENT DOMAIN: The Pioneer Institute hosts Susette Kelon, a woman whose New London house was taken by eminent domain, setting off a legal challenge that resulted in a landmark Supreme Court Decision, and Jeff Benedict, an investigative journalist who probed the case. The event is also hosted by the Institute for Justice.
(Thursday, 5 pm – 7 pm, The Union Club, 9 Park St., Boston)
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Kelo was the tipping point on grassroots rising to protect property rights. Coalitions are now active in communities across the country -- but it is still an uphill battle.
Speaking as someone actually fighting eminent domain in federal court with Houston-based Spectra Energy, I can confirm that, nowadays, eminent domain has less to do with projects for the "public good," and everything to do with the financial good of publicly held companies.
In Bedford County, Pennsylvania (2 hours from Washington), property owners are being hauled into federal court by Spectra Energy, backed by the power of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The landowners' property is sitting on top of the gas-rich Marcellus Shale; but they can't develop that because Spectra Energy wants to use the Oriskany sands layer for an underground gas storage facility.
Here is the great conundrum of eminent domain: property owners possess the key asset that companies and government covet – the land. But they are treated as a waste product in this process rather than as key stakeholders.
Join the fight.
For info: http://www.spectraenergywatch.com/blog/
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