Since everybody else is talking about the Supreme Court decision I’ll say my piece.

Amendment V of the Bill of Rights says this: “…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

I suppose this has been debated to no end, but the definition of public is at question here. Now every owner of an older commercial complex or building close to commercial property, and every homeowner must live in fear of having their property taken away. What can you do to prevent developers from eyeing your land? This guy has an idea. It’s not great but if you knew developers were interested in your land its one idea. The only problem is it could backfire later when you want to sell your property.

Sandra Day O’Connor’s dissent:

“The government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more … The founders cannot have intended this perverse result.”

“Under the banner of economic development, all private property is now vulnerable to being taken and transferred to another private owner, so long as it might be upgraded.”

“Who among us can say she already makes the most productive or attractive use of her property?”