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Posted: Monday, 22 May 2006 3:49PM
New London Homeowners Call on Rell To Protect Their Homes
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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- With a May 31 deadline looming, a group of New London homeowners on Monday urged Gov. M. Jodi Rell to step in and protect their property in the long-running eminent domain dispute.
The residents, who live in the city's Fort Trumbull neighborhood, said they are being forced to accept a financial offer from the city or face eviction. They gathered Monday at the state Capitol, holding a sign that read: ``Please Gov. Rell, return the titles. Do what is morally right.''
``This outrageous act cannot happen. The city does not need this land for development,'' said Scott Bullock, an attorney with the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, which represents the Fort Trumbull homeowners. ``Hopefully these people will be able to stay in their homes that they love so dearly.''
In a written statement Monday, Rell said she is directing the Department of Economic and Community Development and mediator Bob Albright to redouble their efforts to reach a resolution between the homeowners and the New London Development Corp., or NLDC.
``This situation has gone on far too long -- too long for the city of New London and too long for the remaining Fort Trumbull occupants,'' Rell said.
Michael Cristofaro, a Fort Trumbull homeowner, said the governor's mediator, until now, has only tried to find ways to ``buy out'' the remaining homeowners.
``This is not a money issue,'' he said. ``This is about living where you want.''
Last September, Rell urged the NLDC to rescind letters ordering some residents to vacate their houses. State officials at the time had asked municipalities to refrain from seizing property until the legislature had a chance to review the state's eminent domain laws.
The Democrat-controlled legislature has not yet made any changes to the laws, despite pleas from Republicans to prevent eminent domain in situations that benefit private redevelopment projects, such as a shopping mall or condominiums.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last June that the NLDC could take homes for the Fort Trumbull redevelopment project, a decision that ignited debate across the country. But the court also said states were free to change their eminent domain laws.
Susette Kelo, the lead plaintiff in the court case, said she is disappointed that the Connecticut legislature failed to act, and that she hopes lawmakers reconsider. She also said voters should take that into account when they vote in this year's election.
``We need legislators that will listen to the voice of the people and not just big business,'' she said. ``This is our land. These are our homes and no one has the right to take them away from us. Building a hotel, upscale condo so someone else can live here is no public purpose.''
Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision, 20 states have passed some form of legislation that limits eminent domain, Bullock said.
``I regret that the General Assembly has been largely silent on the overall issue of eminent domain, despite the fact that they called a special session last fall and were in regular session for three months earlier this year,'' Rell said. ``In the end, the only action taken by the legislature was the creation of an ombudsman for eminent domain issues within the Office of Policy and Management.''
Image: AP
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