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Justice David Souter
A private developer contacted the local government in Supreme Court Justice David Souter's hometown in New Hampshire yesterday asking that the property of the judge who voted in favor of a controversial decision allowing a city to take residents' homes for private development be seized to make room for a new hotel.
Logan Darrow Clements faxed a request to Chip Meany, the code enforcement officer of the town of Weare, N.H., seeking to start the application process to build a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road, the present location of Souter's home.
Wrote Clements: "Although this property is owned by an individual, David H. Souter, a recent Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. 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."
The Kelo v. City of New London decision, handed down Thursday, allows the New London, Conn., government to seize the homes and businesses of residents to facilitate the building of an office complex that would provide economic benefits to the area and more tax revenue to the city. Though the practice of eminent domain is provided for in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, this case is significant because the seizure is for private development and not for "public use," such as a highway or bridge. The decision has been roundly criticized by property-rights activists and limited-government commentators.
According to a statement from Clements, the proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" 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." Instead of a Gideon's Bible in each room, guests will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged," the statement said.
Clements says 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."
Souter has claimed Weare as his home since he moved there as an 11-year-old boy with his family.
"This is not a prank" said Clements. "The town 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."
Bonnie said:THIS LAND WAS YOUR LAND
Developer wants 'Lost Liberty Hotel' built upon property of David Souter
By Ron Strom
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
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archangel said:Now this would be true justice...I surely hope this goes through... :cof:
The lost liberty hotel: Souter's comeuppance
Tuesday, July 5, 2005
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice David H. Souter lives in a $100,000 rustic farmhouse in Weare, N.H. -- population 8,400.
Mr. Justice Souter is said to love the residence and the quiet peace it affords. However, when you take into account a California man's idea for building a hotel on the property, the justice's attachment to his abode fades into the inconsequential.
The collective good trumps the private right. Doesn't it? The Lost Liberty Hotel should provide tax revenue far in excess of the $2,895 Souter paid on the property in 2004.
And think of the jobs.
We don't know what Souter thinks of Logan Darrow Clements, the activist who would raise capital from pro-liberty investors. But we do know what Mr. Clements thinks of the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo opinion supported by Souter.
Kelo gives the government virtually unfettered power to seize private property and turn it over to other private interests that promise (but need not guarantee) to generate more tax revenue from the land.
So, the hotel would have the "Just Desserts Cafe," a name that leaves no doubt about Clements' reason for coveting Souter's home. May we suggest a signature beverage -- "Comeuppance coffee, with just a hint of bitter almond."
Obviously, David Souter doesn't put much stock in New Hampshire's motto -- "Live Free or Die."
Instead, with Clements' project in mind, we proffer another to Justice Souter: "Stick that in your pipe and smoke it."
