Washington Times
by Susette Kelo

09/19/05

I am the Kelo in Kelo v. City of New London. ... Just last week, three of my neighbors got eviction notices, giving them 30 to 90 days to leave their homes. I received just such a notice five years ago, the day before Thanksgiving, which marked the beginning of my fight to defend what is rightfully mine. It took a gutsy demand from my state's governor to finally make the private condemning agency back down for now on its demand that I and my neighbors give up our homes so they could be bulldozed. ... I sincerely hope Congress will do what judges and local legislators so far have failed to do for me and for thousands of others across the nation: protect our homes under a plain reading of the U.S. Constitution, which says government may only take private property for a 'public use.' Federal lawmakers should pass legislation that will withhold federal funding for eminent domain projects that are for private development -- such as the one that could take my home, and which received $2 million in federal funds...

http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20050919-085408-3231r.htm


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp