Customer Reviews

The Eminent Domain Revolt: Changing Perceptions in a New Constitutional Epoch (HC)

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Let me first admit up front that I have not read this book. I have only read the section that pertains to me.

I do not know if this book makes a persuasive argument or not, but there are two mistakes in the section in which the agency of which I am the current chairman is cited.

First, and foremost, the redevelopment plan in question has nothing to do with housing. This book is an attempt to capitalize on many homeowners' natural revolt at the thought that municipalities can take over private homes just for the sake of economic development or someone's idea of "progress." Nothing could be further from the case in Bristol. Our redevelopment plan had nothing to do with economic development. It had nothing to do with housing, or displacing homeowners. It had nothing to do with "progress."

The Bristol redevelopment plan had to do with the elimination of blight, that is properties who were neglected for decades and were a blot on the downtown. What was asked of the property owners was simply to bring their commercial properties, none of which were inhabited, in compliance with community standards, a common sense standard devoid of gimmickry or legal gobbledygook. Any rational person could look at these properties and determine their inadequacy without the benefit of an advanced engineering diploma or a law degree.

Regardless of the merits of the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision, our redevelopment plan in Bristol had nothing in common with that situation. As a matter of fact, our public policy in Bristol is precisely that we do NOT condemn homes by invoking eminent domain, even to combat blight, much less for economic development.

The second mistake is rather minor but illustrative of sloppy work. The town of Bristol referred to on page 182 is in Rhode Island, not Connecticut, a mistake obviously due to the fact that the Kelo case was in Connecticut. Close, but no cigar.

On the positive side, the author spelled my name correctly and quoted me correctly.

Even if Ryskamp is right in everything he says in this book it still puts a crack whore to sleep in 5 minutes. This book makes The Theory of Relativity read like Dr. Seusse's Green Eggs & Ham! Ultimately, if Ryskamp desires ANYBODY on earth to penetrate this exhaustive work (or else why write it?), why does he render it to such impenetrible levels. The book reads like the fine print of a car lease payment disclaimer 200 pages long?!!

I for one am a believer that anything which is of value to human beings, whether it be legal, scientific, or otherwise should not read like a 200 page car lease payment disclaimer! I don't care what the subject is! This book reminds me of a novel or some other kind of writing which gets so engrossed on the fine details that you just loose track of the whole purpose!

This document lacks some serious structure. It's like trying to catch water using a net.