WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Mississippi Gets "F" in Eminent Domain Reform

WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Mississippi Gets "F" in Eminent Domain Reform: "Eminent domain, or the state's power to take over private property, has always been a concern for home and small business owners."

Can't life be a bummer sometimes? What about us as human beings, can't we become contrary as situations change? For instance, there are still people in Fema trailers that have been deprived, because of the storm, a decent place to live. At first, people were bending over backwards to aid their fellowman in a time of distress. Fema trailers sprouted everywhere to help the citizens who had no shelter. Now that time has passed, and many people are doing quite well again, there are complaints about where the trailers have been placed. The same people you willingly helped are still there. So what has changed? Unfortunately, it is obvious that when the situation improved for them personally, they had a change of heart.

Immediately after the storm when I had internet service again, I sent an email to a county supervisor offering my land for placing trailers there. I knew nothing of Fema reimbursements, I was willing to do it for nothing. I never received a reply but getting anything through in the earlier days was next to impossible.

I remarked in an earlier post that if you just name a subject that I can tell you a story. I have one on eminent domain which I think is a legal way of stealing what belongs to someone else. To use eminent domain requires a procedure of notification, signatures and maybe a ridiculous amount of money given to you to take your property. My daughter's boyfriend alerted us to the fact that the county was using a portion of our land and that there was a huge drainage ditch dug across it. The ditch was a requirement to collect the money on a couple of million dollar road project. All we asked for was the $2000 that was paid to other property owners that were involved. They said take them to court and we did. Seven years later we were awarded $15,000 .. the attorney received 40% of it. Was it worth the hassle? No!!! The land has been in our name for 22 yrs., so figure the taxes that have been paid. I just paid 2006 taxes this month. It's a catch 22, if you don't pay the taxes you can lose it and now we have eminent domain raising its ugly head again . Take if from one who knows, they do strike!

We have had stormy weather and lately it has been very cold. I wonder how the people in trailers are faring. Any news on them has virtually stopped. I guess I am old fashioned but I think the welfare of people should be of the highest priority. Please don't tell me I am dreaming again.

Just a short note to all of you that read my blog. Sometimes I have to just take a break from all the "reporting" I have been doing on my hometown and surrounding areas to psyche myself up to continue. We have been enduring the hardships of Katrina's aftermath not only in our waking hours but at times in restless sleep and troubled dreams about our uncertain future. Someone recently asked me, "What do you think will happen?" Personally, I am free to offer a conjecture based entirely only on what I have read and seen from day to day. The working class, heart of any city, are not being focused on as they should be. There is so much "red tape" involved that is delaying the rebuilding of their homes. Much of that "red tape" is impossible to comply with, so they are forced to leave and take up residency elsewhere. Then there are the "diehards" like me who refuse to give up their freedom to live where they choose. But then I ask myself, "Are we really free"? There is eminent domain lurking in the background that can take that freedom away. I read about the casinos and condos and the chance that the Coast has to be a playground where the mega wealthy can come on a "holiday" while the remaining citizens who have managed to "hang on" could still be residing in a FEMA trailer that they would be paying rent on along with the mortgage on their destroyed homes. Although the casinos can put people to work again, there are people who held other jobs. Most locally owned businesses are not operational.. After nine months of not seeing much progress, my optimism for a bright future has dimmed considerably.

There have been no concrete answers on any of the problems that exist here. "Just a whole lot of waiting going on". Hey! That reminds me of a song so I will end on that note!