CA Redevelopment Head Weighs in on Kelo

"We were afraid that the Supreme Court might not only overturn the Connecticut Supreme Court’s initial Kelo decision but also issue some sort of sweeping opinion that would jeopardize the use of eminent domain nation-wide. So there was relief that the Court ruled in favor of the City of New London. However, none of us were prepared for the adverse public reaction that followed.

"That adverse public reaction has been manifested in nearly every statehouse in the country and in the United States Congress and, consequently, we’re now facing serious attempts to eliminate or greatly curtail the ability of redevelopment agencies to use eminent domain for redevelopment. In retrospect, while we were relieved to see the way the decision went, we would have been better off if we had lost."