Author: Timothy Sandefur
The city of Glendale, California, has its eyes on the Golden Key Hotel. It wants to take the land to give to a private developer to construct a more luxurious hotel—exactly as Justice Sandra Day O’Connor warned in Kelo v. New London, when she wrote that thanks to the Court’s decision in that case, “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.” As you can see by looking on Google Street View, the hotel is not blighted in any way; it just happens to be right next to the luxurious “Americana At Brand” shopping center.
Now, local citizens are rallying to protest the city’s attempt to seize Mr. Patel’s property. They’re meeting on Tuesday, February 15 at 8:00 a.m. at the hotel, located at the corner of Colorado and Orange streets in Glendale, and I will be joining them. If you’re in the area, and you oppose the abuse of eminent domain, please show up and show your support for the constitutional rights of private property owners!
