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GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
by James W. Harris
Supreme Court Justice's Home to Be Seized?
Talk about poetic justice!
On Monday, June 27, real estate developer Logan Darrow Clements contacted
the Towne of Weare, New Hampshire and stated he wanted to build a hotel on
land located at 34 Cilley Hill Road.
Not at all coincidentally, this is the current location of the home of...
Justice David. H. Souter.
Justice Souter was one of five justices who supported the outrageous "Kelo
vs. City of New London" decision. That decision allows city governments to
use eminent domain to take land from one private owner and give it to
another, if the government will generate greater tax revenue or other
economic benefits when the land is developed by the new owner.
Following that logic with wonderful precision, Clements says the Towne of
Weare will certainly gain greater tax revenue and economic benefits by
replacing Mr. Souter's home with the proposed hotel.
As Clements wrote the town government:
"Although this property is owned by an individual, David H. Souter, a
recent Supreme Court decision, "Kelo vs. City of New London" clears the way
for this land to be taken by the Government of Weare through eminent domain
and given to my LLC for the purposes of building a hotel. The justification
for such an eminent domain action is that our hotel will better serve the
public interest as it will bring in economic development and higher tax
revenue to Weare."
Souter's home appraises at a bit over $100,000. As the Boston Herald
editorial board noted, with more than a touch of glee:
"With Souter paying a mere $3,000 a year in property taxes, surely a little
development would be good for the town's tax base."
The town government reports that it has received numerous emails from
across America enthusiastically supporting the hotel and urging the seizure
of Souter's land.
Clements' hotel is to be called "The Lost Liberty Hotel." It will feature
the "Just Desserts Café" and include a museum, open to the public,
featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Every
guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."
Clements indicated that the hotel must be built on this particular piece of
land, because "it is a unique site, being the home of someone largely
responsible for destroying property rights for all Americans."
"This is not a prank," Clements says. "The Towne of Weare has five people
on the Board of Selectmen. If three of them vote to use the power of
eminent domain to take this land from Mr. Souter we can begin our hotel
development. ? We will build a hotel there if investors come forward,
definitely."
Clements plans to raise investment capital from wealthy pro-liberty
investors. He is being flooded with supportive emails. And he hopes that
regular customers of the hotel might include libertarian organizations, who
could hold meetings there.
Will future Advocates events be held at The Lost Liberty Hotel? Could be.
Stay tuned!
(Sources: Freestar Media press release:
http://www.freestarm...stliberty2.html
Boston Herald editorial:
http://news.bostonhe...articleid=92242
World Net Daily:
http://worldnetdaily...RTICLE_ID=45029
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I am highly amused. I want to stay at that hotel after it's built
Too bad that, 'round here, those that make sure dumb laws will always pull themselves out of the drag and make sure it won't apply to them when it comes knocking on their doors.
