Do you support eminent domain?

[merrily]

32. I voted to pass on the existing options because my response is

I support the centuries old power of eminent domain, recognized in the US Constitution, if "public" is defined very narrowly and the price paid is very fair, meaning a bonus for the involuntary nature of the move, not simply fair market value of the property.

If a city really needs a right of way or a piece of property for a valid and necessary city use and the owner(s) won't sell, something has to give for the good of the city's population. But, eminent domain has been abused and the results have been highly detrimental to the general population.

The Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005) affirmed the authority of New London, Connecticut, to take non-blighted private property by eminent domain, and then transfer it for a dollar a year to a private developer solely for the purpose of increasing municipal revenues. This 5-4 decision received heavy press coverage and inspired a public outcry criticizing eminent domain powers as too broad. In reaction to Kelo, several states enacted or are considering state legislation that would further define and restrict the power of eminent domain. The Supreme Courts of Illinois, Michigan (County of Wayne v. Hathcock [2004]), Ohio (Norwood, Ohio v. Horney [2006]), Oklahoma, and South Carolina have recently ruled to disallow such takings under their state constitutions.

The redevelopment in New London, the subject of the Kelo decision, proved to be a failure and as of ten years after the court's decision nothing has been built on the taken land in spite of the expenditure of over $100 million in public funds. The Pfizer corporation, which owned a $300 million research facility in the area, and would have been the primary beneficiary of the additional development, announced in 2009 that it would close its facility, and did so shortly before the expiration of its 10-year tax abatement agreement with the city.[12] The facility was subsequently purchased in 2010 for just $55 million by General Dynamics Electric Boat.[13]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelo_v._City_of_New_London