Prior to the November 3 House vote on H.R. 4128, the Private Property Rights Protection Act, Suzette Kelo described in September 20 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee the events surrounding the City of New London’s aggressive use of its eminent domain power and how it has affected her life.
“In 1997, I searched all over for a house and finally found this perfect little Victorian cottage with beautiful views of the water. I was working then as a paramedic and was overjoyed that I was able to find a beautiful little place I could afford on my salary. I spent every spare moment fixing it up and creating the kind of home I always dreamed of. I painted it salmon pink, because that is my favorite color. …
“So why did the City and the New London Development Corporation (NLDC) want to kick us out? To make way for a luxury hotel, up-scale condos, and other private developments that could bring in more taxes to the City and possibly create more jobs. The poor and middle class had to make way for the rich and politically connected. …
“My neighborhood was not blighted. It was a nice neighborhood where people were close. … We don’t want to leave. None of us asked for any of this. We were simply living our lives, working, taking care of our families and paying our taxes. …
“What is happening to me should not happen to anyone else. Congress and state legislatures need to send a message to local governments that this kind of abuse of power will not be funded or tolerated. …
“Special interests–who benefit from this use of government power–are working to convince the public and legislatures that there isn’t a problem, but I am living proof that there is. This battle against eminent domain abuse may have started as a way for me to save my little pink cottage, but it has rightfully grown into something much larger–the fight to restore the American Dream and the sacredness and security of each one of our homes.”
— James Hoare
For more information …
The full text of Suzette Kelo’s testimony is available online at http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/guest_commentary/susette-kelo-testimony.htm.
