Even in development cases not intended to benefit other private parties, governments frequently use the threat of eminent domain in unnecessarily destructive ways, destroying successful businesses, and long-time private homes.
State laws permit the use of eminent domain for public projects such as industrial parks, right-of-ways for streets, roads, utilities, and railroads, and to rejuvenate “blighted” or “sub-standard” areas. There are very specific statutory process requirements controlling the application of eminent domain, but local governments often violate those requirements.
The reason that such abuses can succeed is that the power and money of governmental units and large developers can easily overwhelm the unprepared private interests. Often, the mere thought of eminent domain takings will cause frightened landowners to agree to sell and move. Others will not have the time to defend themselves, and will sell in frustration.
PATROL will attempt to provide the early-warning and weaponry needed for citizen groups to form quickly and be effective in putting a stop to eminent domain abuse.
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Eminent Domain Abuse in Minnesota, by Nick Dranias of the Minneapolis Institute for Justice