County using eminent domain to buy club

shadowcat
Atlanta suburb
Full story:

https://www.whqr.org/local/2023-11-07/nh…

9 comments

Latest

  • blahblahblah23
    a year ago
    Well using eminent domain to get rid of strip clubs is news to me. I am kinda confused though because politicians commonly spend money on hookers, but same time they don't want strip clubs around?
  • twentyfive
    a year ago
    Very often the use of eminent domain is a payoff to a politically connected land owner, often used to avoid the scrutiny of a direct sale transaction. In this case it’s very likely a payoff for the property owners and associates.
  • Muddy
    a year ago
    This place wasn’t that good anyway imo but it was the only spot in Wilmington.
  • 5footguy
    a year ago
    Anyone who approves of the notion of eminent domain supports tyrannical seizure of personal property. Always in the name of "for the good of the community" of course.

    At least in this case the owner was paid more than it was purchased for 12 years ago. Maybe they'll just set up shop somewhere close, unless zoning and endless government red tape prohibits or makes it infeasible to reopen.
  • twentyfive
    a year ago
    ^ that’s not only stupid it’s shortsighted as well, without eminent domain we wouldn’t have an interstate highway system, airports, or many other public projects that enhance our standards of life.
  • 5footguy
    a year ago
    ^^ Classy and articulate as always. Quoting the article:

    * "the resolution, which did not appear on the agenda, was added in the final minutes of the meeting. There was no meaningful explanation for the decision and no discussion by county commissioners, who voted unanimously to approve the resolution."
    * "The strip club, in its various iterations, has been a thorn in the county's side for some time, in large part because of the optics"
    * "The government center redevelopment actually brought the county's new headquarters physically closer to the strip club."

    Sounds a bit like political weaponization. This is not a "right vs left" thing, this is an "individual vs power" thing. The government wants your property? It's theirs. Have you ever had your property seized by eminent domain? If not, try taking a walk in someone else's shoes who has, and consider how taking something from one person for your benefit affects all parties.

    https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/08/29/the-…
  • twentyfive
    a year ago
    ^I never claimed it was appropriate here, you on the other hand just made a blanket statement without any nuance or acknowledgment that there are very valid reasons for the use of eminent domain
  • Jascoi
    a year ago
    misuse of eminent domain law is wrong.
  • skibum609
    a year ago
    Not going to happen soon, if ever. This is the first step, and it appears that the open meeting law was violated by failing to post the agenda and invite public comment. Further, the club can fight the taking and/or the price. When they tried to build a new courthouse in one of the larger cities here eminent domain took 9 years start to finish. This was all made possible by Judge Breyer's opinion on a Connecticut case where waterfront land was taken by the state because it was grubby and didn't look good. So they screwed the long-time residents, took the land and sold it to a developer.
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