Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Riviera Beach residents sue to end threat
of eminent domain land seizures

Four property owners have sued the city of Riviera Beach to stop the government from razing their properties for a $2.4 billion waterfront redevelopment project, which they say blatantly violates Florida's eminent domain laws.

"Does better mean when you have more money you're better than me when I don't have as much money?" said Princess Wells, who built her house with her husband 20 years ago. "You go home every day and you don't know whether you are going to be able to keep your house."

Despite the new Florida laws passed earlier this year, Mayor Michael Brown is pressing forward with plans to develop a marina, restaurants, hotels and luxury condominiums. Brown said redevelopment is crucial to resurrect "a city that is strife with unemployment, strife with crime, strife with all the evils and misfortunes of urban communities across this country."

He lashed out at the Institute for Justice, which filed the suit. "If they were about justice, they would be down here assisting us in trying to help rescue the community," he said.

Read the South Florida Sun-Sentinel story here. And see previous posts here, here, here and here.

1 Comments:

At 10:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why don't they vote him out of office!!!! This is an outrage!!!
The area will eventually turn, but you don't have to displace people against thier will! They bought and paid for their places, paid taxes!

 

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