Fortunately, there was some rational testimony provided during the Senate’s Kelo hearing. Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP’s DC Bureau stated:
Moreover,
when an area is taken for ?economic development,? low-income families
are driven out of their neighborhoods and find that they cannot afford
to live in the ?revitalized? communities; the remaining ?affordable?
housing in the area is almost certain to become less so. When the goal
is to increase the area?s tax base, it only makes sense that the
previous low-income residents will not be able to remain in the area.
This is borne out not only by common sense, but also by statistics: one
study for the mid-1980?s showed that 86% of those relocated by an
exercise of the eminent domain power were paying more rent at their new
residences, with the median rent almost doubling .
Statements
by city officials, especially those representing the National League of
Cities, stressing their love affair with “economic development takings”
only furthers my contention that North Carolina needs a constitutional
amendment to adequately protect property rights.
