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There are times when we are told to “keep our powder dry.” In this case I refer to exposing those who abuse eminent domain by taking private property when it is not for sale simply for personal gain. If Donald Trump threw his hat into the list of GOP challengers to president Obama, this true account of his attempt to trample our Fifth Amendment right to private property protection would have splashed across the wires.
While I include this example of his attempted abuse in my presentation binders, it still represents an example of the powerful attacking of the small guy who is not well connected.
No one is challenging government agencies from utilizing their eminent domain police powers when it pertains to building or expanding a road or adding a school or fire house. We do however object when victims receive a Resolution of Necessity so that investors like Trump Towers can expand their Atlantic City casino operations.
Becoming a member of the Institute for Justice’s Castle Coalition has broadened my exposure to hundreds of victims and victors, many of which I remain in contact with on a regular basis. One of the eminent domain cases I became aware of, in which the IJ represented a property owner, has been covered in the following You Tube link. Watch and listen as Donald Trump tries to justify taking the home of Vera Coking, a 90 year old widow, who simply wanted to keep her rooming house adjacent to the Trump Plaza Hotel. She owned that property, located at 127 S. Columbia in Atlantic City, for over 35 years, long before the casino was built.
Trivia. Prior to the Trump offer she rejected an offer by Penthouse Magazine’s Bob Guccione.
“Atlantic City NJ Condemnation
State Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
“Vera Coking, an elderly widow from Atlantic City, knows firsthand the power of unaccountable government agencies. The Institute of Justice successfully defended Vera against the condemnation of her home by a state agency that sought to take her property and transfer it–at a bargain basement price–to another private individual: Donald Trump. Trump convinced the state agency to sue its “eminent domain” power to take Vera’s home so he could construct a limousine parking lot for his customers–hardly a public purpose. And unfortunately, cases in which government agencies act not as protectors of constitutionally guaranteed rights, but instead as agents for powerful private interests, have become all too common.
Thanks to IJ’s advocacy, Vera Coking won in court. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority voted 10 to 0 last week not to appeal the July 20, 1998 N.J. Superior Court decision by Judge Richard Williams in which he rejected the “use of eminent domain to force Vera Coking, who owns a rooming house, and three other Atlantic City property holders to sell to Donald Trump, saying the seizure would benefit Mr. Trump and not the public at large. that said the authority could not take Ms. Coking’s property and two nearby businesses by eminent domain because it did not have enough assurance from Mr. Trump the land would be used for the public good. The Trump organization agreed not to appeal the July 20 decision.”
Update. Vera Coking eventually sold her property to a casino company in 2007. While visiting this area a few years ago we observed the slum conditions of Atlantic City, that were to be revitalized as part of the 1976 vote to approve casino gambling, are still heavily blighted. This is an impoverished working class neighborhood. A member of my family just confirmed that there are still vacant lots, that were bulldozed when we visited, as well as some adjacent streets that are simply unsafe to walk down today. So much for broken redevelopment promises.
As if there weren’t a million other reasons not to support that clown.
Gee, that’s a relief Larry. Both Trump’s face-plant and the fact that we wouldn’t have had to argue with you about such a ridiculous guy.
Vern. While Don was not on my short or long list I will NOT be voting for Obama.
That’s one Gilbert comment you can take to the bank.
*Since Reagan, JFK, RFK and John Cleese are not running in 2012…..we of course will
be jumping on the Obama bandwagon with both feet again!!!
Ron & Anna. I witnessed your initial support of Obama so I am not surprised that you again cross the line.
When candidates and offices are being discussed there are always two sides to the coin.
Has the incumbent, in any elected position, done a poor job? President Obama YES. OK. Can you bring forward someone who will do a better job and has what it takes to win?
No matter how bad an incument elected official has performed in office you need to bring me a candidate that is electable. At this moment I am leaning to McMillan, the candidate whose party message is simple.
The rent is too damn high. Joking, but you will agree that he is entertaining.
*Bring us a viable Republican candidate that has not only the vision thing…..but reality built into their soul……and by golly …..we could take another look. But until then, since Hillary is doing a good job, Penetta seems to have risen to the occasion and since we just plain love Joe and Jill as our Vice President…..wad’ya goin do?
Can’t quite imagine Crystal Palin as our Secretary of Defense……or Donald Trump as our Secretary of Labor…..or Arnold as our Homeland Security Chief.
Ron & Anna.
Arnold as Homeland Security chief? Ask Maria about his 10 year old, out of wedlock child of a staffer that was just reported.
While I would not have voted for The Donald for Prez, we do own him a large thank you for putting the birther issue to bed for the vast majority. A few wingnuts will try to keep it alive but Thanks to The Donald it is over for most.
Perhaps besides getting some extra publicity that was one of his objectives. He is not dumb enought to have believed it to begin with. When asked for his the Don released a Certificate of Birth not a Birth Certificate, exactly like Obama had done. Everyone seemed to miss that piece of info.
That is why I perdicted that as soon as the birther issue was put to rest he would withdraw.
He might support another Repubilcan Candidate or stay neutral, perhaps he might even vote to re-elect Obama, but will not tell us that in public.
He did say that the president very intelligent and skilled when pressed on it.