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Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage

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When Susette Kelo's five boys grew up and moved out of the rural house she shared with her husband it became apparent that their marriage was no longer working. Susette made the decision to leave him and move out on her own. Having also made the decision to use no money from their joint account all Susette was able to afford was a small fixer upper on the waterfront in New London, Connecticut.

Around the same time Susette purchased her new home and began to fix it up. The New London Development Corporation was formulating a plan to re-develop the waterfront which included the Ft. Trumbull area where Susette's house was located by selling the land to the pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

When Susette and more than a few of her neighbors refused to sell, the city and the NLDC tried to take their homes using eminent domain, the law which allows the state to seize a citizen's private property for public use. What resulted was court case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court and a fight that lasted over 9 years.

Blurb: "In Little Pink House, award-winning investigative journalist Jeff Benedict takes us behind the scenes of this case -- indeed, Susette Kelo speaks for the first time about all the details of this inspirational true story as one woman led the charge to take on corporate America to save her home."

The amazing spirit of Susette Kelo and the other families that refused to leave is so moving. They refused to back down when it seemed impossible that they would ever win. I admire they way Susette showed no sign of weakness in front of the big corporation and the rest of her opposition.

The news stories about the case became national news and the Supreme Court ruling became one of the most unpopular rulings of all time. Since this case states either have or are considering amendments to the eminent domain law which prohibit the state turning over land seized under the guise of public use over to private corporations.

My review is based on the abridged audio version which was read by Maggi-Meg Reed. I think that listening to this as opposed to reading gave me a better mental picture of Susette as fighter and a strong woman to admire. I highly recommend this book to readers of all genres as it is an inspirational story.

This is a fabulous book that takes you on the journey of the Ft. Trumbull neighborhood in New London, CT. You wll be outraged when you read what this neighborhood went through when put up against Eminent Domain. Its amazing to read how Susette Kelo stood up to her City, her State and the US Supreme Court, not for anything other than to hold onto the American Dream of owning and keeping her home. Its a page-turner with a conscience.
Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage

Only a few times in my life have I truly read a book cover to cover in one sitting. At the top of the list are two compelling tales - No Bone Unturned and now, Little Pink House - both by Jeff Benedict. I could not put it down although, in the spirit of full disclosure, I did close my eyes for a couple of hours at 3am this morning.

Without embellishment or taking sides Jeff immediately captured the essence of the human condition and the compelling nature of the issue. Against a backdrop of constitutional law and basic human dignity the story of Susette Kelo and her neighbours opens a dialogue on everything from states rights to faith and the human condition.

Even I find myself conflicted at the end. Eminent domain is an important tool provided to us by the framers of the constitution and in the case of New London it probably would have been a life-line for solvency if the human condition did not include greed and vengeance. Where is the balance? To the question of law I point to the simplicity and depth of the Federalist Papers.
How could such a clear document be used so badly by so many. In this story Benedict holds up a mirror up to society. We must take ourselves beyond the legal issue and ask ourselves how could we treat our neighbours so disspationately.

While there are clearly villains in this story they are not inherently evil, so where and why did they choose the path of destruction. Benedict's neutrality allows the many points of view to be appreciated (not necessarily agreed with) and discussed. Funny though, and fitting, that at the end of the day, the man who started all of this has become an embarrassing footnote in Connecticut's history.

Once again Jeff has penned a great read about an important issue.
Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage

This book is a case study on the disconnect between the American people and their government at both the state and federal levels. It shows that the bureaucrats in Washington and Hartford (in this instance) simply operate in a world of their own that has no connection with the reality of the life of a typical American citizen.

(Addendum to this review: In November of 2009, Pfizer announced that it was closing its New London office, thereby reinforcing the harsh criticism of the inept development planners in New London -- as well as the critics of the controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the local homeowners and in favor of the commercial development of New London on Pfizer's behalf. Moreover 43 states have since enacted legislation preventing the kind of eminent domain taking that is described in this book.)

The book's author, Jeff Benedict, tells the tale of a woman in New London, Connecticut and seven of her neighbors who watched in horror as their government proceeded to use eminent domain to seize their private homes and eventually bulldoze them to the ground in an effort to help the Pfizer drug company expand its research facilities in the town of 25,000 people on the Connecticut shore.

Worse, when the woman, Susette Kelo, and her supporters seek justice at the nation's highest judicial level, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the town has the right to seize private property to further commercial interests, all in the name of the "public good" - even though the commercial interests destroy lives in local neighborhoods.

The whole New London episode was, in a word, a scam against the private property rights of American citizens. In her dissenting opinion of the Supreme Court's ruling, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said:

"...the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result."

"Perverse" is the operative word here. The U.S. Supreme Court essentially broadened the concept of eminent domain far beyond the narrow definition that the founding fathers used to allow governments to seize private property for the "public good." Under the new Kelo precedent, local, state and federal governments can do anything they want irregardless of the injustice they inflict on private citizens and their property.

The lead character in this book is Susette Kelo, a single woman with five children. After her marriage fails, Kelo becomes a emergency medical technician in New London and on one of her calls she sees a small house on the New London waterfront near a defunct revolutionary military facility, Fort Trumbull. Kelo is captivated by the house, eventually buys it, renovates it (she paints it pink) and makes it her castle.

But not for long, because up in the ivory tower at nearby Connecticut College, the president of the exclusive school gets it in her mind that she wants to help New London rejuvenate itself. Dr. Claire Gaudiani is a saucy, ambitious woman who likes to flaunt her feminine mystique. On the prowl for a civic role, she decides that the Fort Trumbull area of New London is the perfect place to develop in support of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company's plans to expand its research facilities. Under Gaudiani's "vision," the 90-acre parcel of land will be the site of a luxury hotel, a marina, fancy shops and upscale office and residential neighborhoods that will support Pfizer's expanded facility. The scheme is an audacious effort to attract upscale tenants that will fatten New London's tax base.

The only obstacle to the scheme is the poor neighborhood of residential homes in the Fort Trumbull area. No problem, Gaudiani concludes: just seize the homes under the eminent domain principal, and bulldoze them down to the ground.

The neighborhood, however, doesn't see eye to eye with Gaudiani and her New London Development Corporation, and their plight captures the attention of a lot of sympathetic prominent officials, including New London Mayor Lloyd Beachy. Over the course of several months, the locals also attract the attention of Scott Bullock, an attorney at the Institute of Justice in Washington, DC. The institute is a public interest organization that focuses on property rights, economic liberty, free speech and school choice, and the plight of the Fort Trumbull residents whose homes are threatened by the prospect of seizure under eminent domain proved to be an ideal issue for the institute to defend..

In this well written, well documented book, author Jeff Benedict details the eight-year confrontation between Gaudiani and the NLDC versus the local neighborhood and the Institute of Justice. Benedict's narrative captures all the flavor of the participants and the issues. (Benedict is the author of Without Reservation, a book about how Native Americans in southeast Connecticut were able to build one of the largest casinos in the world through the manipulation of willing state and federal officials in Hartford and Washington).

In Benedict's account of the New London fiasco, Kelo and her neighbors are clearly the heroic victims who stands up for their rights (which they ultimately lost). The villains are Claire Gaudiani and the NLDC, Governor John Rowland (who ended up in jail on separate corruption allegations), and the majority on the U.S. Supreme Court who affirmed New London's right to seize private property in favor of private development. But there are lots of other colorful characters, as well, who figure prominently in Benedict's narrative. Former New London Mayor Lloyd Beachy took the residents side from the beginning and almost negotiated a compromise that would avoided all the legal skirmishing.

But that didn't happen. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which defied all practical logic and affirmed the city's right to seize and destroy private property in its quest for more tax revenue.

Even more astonishing, however, was the public reaction after the court's ruling. Benedict tells how Kelo and her neighbors drew support from all over the country. The Institute of Justice took advantage of that reaction to conduct an educational campaign that encouraged the U.S. Congress and state legislatures to revise the law so that private property rights were even further protected. Ironically, one of the few states not to take action in that regard was Connecticut.

In the end, Kelo and her neighbors finally, and reluctantly settled their case when the state offered significant monetary settlements to move on. Kelo held out for her pink house to be moved out of the 90-acre tract and relocated nearby where it has become a symbol of the fight for property rights. She herself found a similar waterfront property across the river in Groton where she has since relocated.

And the 90-acre plot that was supposed to be developed into an upscale commercial/residential neighborhood with a marina and luxury hotel? The local homes were flattened and the 90-acres was cleared. But Benedict reports that nothing was built, and given the current economic crisis, it is likely that for all its efforts to trample over its residents and their property rights, the state and the New London Redevelopment Corporation spent more than $70 million of public money to acquire a very large vacant lot where no one is paying any taxes. Now there's a disconnect.

Susette Kelo survived a troubled childhood and two unhappy marriages and had decided to start her life all over again. She bought a little cottage near the Thames River in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood of New London, Connecticut. She worked on the house, even sanding the hardwood floors by hand. At around the same time, Claire Gaudiani was appointed chairman of the New London Development Corporation. Claire decided that Pfizer Corporation should locate their new research and development headquarters on the Thames River in New London and would stop at nothing to get her way. Once she talked Pfizer into it, she had to acquire all of the land she wanted for the project. The New London Development Corporation persuaded the city of New London to give them eminent domain and they went after the Fort Trumbull neighborhood. In the past, eminent domain had been used to build roads or schools or hospitals - now, it was being used to chase out homeowners for a private development that would pay more tax dollars.

Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage by Jeff Benedict is the story of Susette Kelo and the Fort Trumbull neighborhood and their fight against eminent domain. This case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

I listened to this audio book and thought it was fantastic. It is read by Maggi-Meg Reed and she does a phenomenal job. There is a lot of legal information in this book, but it is written so that the average person can understand it. I found myself admiring the people who stood their ground and fought and I found myself really angry at the New London Development Corporation and their bullying tactics.

I first heard the author on the Diane Rehm show (you can still listen to it in the archives). Susette Kelo's unwavering courage and determination in spite of unbelievable (and very sleazy) opposition are remarkable. You will cheer for her neighbors and the team at the Institute for Justice. You will hiss at the local politicians (excluding the mayor) and Susette's nemesis, a female college president with huge ambition. You will finally understand that we need to keep an eye on who is appointed to and what occurs at the Supreme Court. It matters. And if Susette's story (and this book, which, incidentally, is extremely well written) inspires any of us to work for justice, then widespread change will be her real victory. We owe that much to her. Read it, and make sure all your friends and family read it, too.

After the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Kelo v. City of New London, protestors from across the country flocked to New London, Connecticut. They wanted to support a homeowner in her struggle to hold on to her most prized possession--her little pink house. Her right to property, a right that most Americans take for granted, was threatened by New London's aggressive approach to eminent domain. And the protestors knew that the Supreme Court had put all property at risk when it gave New London the green light.

In Little Pink House, Jeff Benedict tells the story behind the Kelo case and the fight against eminent domain abuse that it sparked. Benedict clearly explains how eminent domain, the state's power to confiscate private property, is restricted in two fundamental ways by the U.S. Constitution: the state must compensate the owner, and the state may take property only for a public use. Some examples of public uses are roads and government buildings. Eminent domain makes sense in those cases. After all, without the option of eminent domain, every new highway would have to twist and turn to go around properties whose owners refused to sell.

When states use eminent domain for clearly public purposes like new roads, the takings don't generate much controversy. But over the years, courts have interpreted "public use" more and more broadly. In Kelo v. City of New London, the city wanted to demolish Susette Kelo's home to clear her neighborhood for a private developer. New London needed a new source of tax revenue, and the neighborhood stood in the way of an important deal. Pfizer, lured by generous state incentives, was willing to build a research facility in New London--but only if the surrounding area got a makeover. Pfizer employees liked upscale housing and health clubs, not close-knit working class communities. So New London agreed that the community had to go.

Benedict tells how Kelo and her neighbors waged a public-relations campaign against the plan, and how they challenged it in the courts with help from the Institute for Justice. The district court gave the homeowners a partial victory. Kelo could stay, because no specific development was slated for her property. But the ruling required her neighbors to leave. The group appealed. The answer they got was bad news: the city could use eminent domain to evict all the homeowners, even Kelo. They then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that the city could take property from one private citizen and give it to another in order to generate higher tax revenue. The homeowners were out of luck.

Little Pink House paints a vivid picture of eminent domain's devastating effects. The homeowners were forced to give up their houses and businesses, which in some cases had been in their families for generations. For Kelo, her pink house represented her independence after a difficult time in her life and the friendships she had formed in her new home. Aside from the loss of the properties themselves, the relentless legal battle took a tremendous toll on the homeowners.

Eminent domain abuse also harms the communities that could be threatened by it in the future. Benedict quotes Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party... (T)he government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more." Unfortunately, Benedict does not develop this point or comment on how eminent domain abuse discourages private investment in poor areas.

There is one other drawback to Benedict's narrative. He describes the proponents of eminent domain in such detail, noting every instance of arrogant speech or tasteless dress, that a reader might mistakenly conclude that the takings in New London were wrong simply because those in power were personally unappealing. Readers should keep in mind that robbing anyone to enrich a wealthier taxpayer would be unjust even if its advocates were all paragons of tact.

Still, Little Pink House is a compelling account of the Kelo case. Benedict has conducted close research and draws on hundreds of interviews to guide readers through one woman's historic fight for her property. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of the story behind the protests.

LITTLE PINK HOUSE tells the story of what has turned out to be the US's landmark case of the use of eminent domain, or the means by which the government can seize private property. Traditionally, eminent domain was employed only in situations where there was a designated "public use" for the property being taken--for example, the building of a necessary new highway. But the case featured in this book, Kelo v. City of New London, was different, as the city of New London, CT, home of divorced EMT Suzette Kelo, wanted to take the homes of Kelo and her neighbors to make way for a private corporation, Pfizer, without ever designating a specific use for their land.

Author Jeff Benedict did an excellent job of turning this complicated case into a compelling read. He obviously performed extensive research interviewing those involved on both sides of the case, from Kelo herself to those supporting her, including her fellow neighbors and legal counsel, to Tom Londregan, attorney for the city of New London, and Claire Gaudiani, the President of the New London Development Corporation (NLDC) who was instrumental in luring Pfizer to the city in the first place. However, Kelo is clearly the heart of the story, and there are a few times that the book drags a bit when Benedict strays too far from his most interesting subject. Similarly, Benedict sticks close to the facts of the case, but I think his readers would've appreciated a bit more detail about Kelo's personal life (readers get only teasing references to Kelo's five grown sons and brief glimpses into her married life). And although Claire Gaudiani may be attention-grabbing in real life, the inner workings of the NLDC just aren't all that interesting to read about. Overall, however, this is a fascinating read, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Susette Kelo decides to leave her second marriage - her five sons are grown, she has had to struggle much of her life and she just wants to have a little house overlooking the water that belongs to her. She finds an older home in the working class Fort Trumble neighbourhood of New London, Connecticut. It needs some work, but the view of the water is priceless. She fixes it up slowly while studying for her nursing degree.

At the same time pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, just across the river, is looking to expand it's facilities by building a new research and clinical centre. In an effort to woo them, the city of New London, in the form of the New London Development Corporation (NLDC) offers Pfizer, free of charge, a four million dollar piece of property. Pfizer is also interested in having suitable housing, shopping and recreational facilities nearby.

And here's where two worlds collide. The NLDC decides that ninety acres, including Susette's neighbourhood, is better suited to Pfizer's needs than that of the people living there. Pfizer will generate jobs and more taxes. The NLDC invokes eminent domain and decides to take the houses.

Eminent Domain is defined as the power of the federal or state government to take private property for a public purpose, even if the property owner objects. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution allows the government to take private property if the taking is for a public use and the owner is "justly compensated" (usually, paid fair market value) for his or her loss. A public use is virtually anything that is sanctioned by a federal or state legislative body, but such uses may include roads, parks, reservoirs, schools, hospitals or other public buildings.

Little Pink House is the story of Susette Kelo and her refusal to let her house be taken. In a fight that went to the Supreme Court, the Kelo case is a landmark.

Investigative journalist Jeff Benedict has done extensive interviewing, providing coverage of not just Susette's view, but that of the opposing side.

The reader, Maggi-Meg Reed, does an excellent job. She captures Susette's defiance, courage and determination perfectly. Her voice also manages to capture the arrogance of the NLDC and those involved with it.

I was so captured by this true story. I listened in the car on the way to and from work and had to frequently flip back to the radio as I was so incensed by the arrogance, indifference and downright cruelty shown to the people of the Fort Trumble neighbourhood. Susette, her friends, supporters and their story are such an inspiration, choosing to stand up for their beliefs in a long, protracted ten year battle.

I hope this book gets a wide audience because what happened to Susette Kelo and her little pink house could happen to any of us! Kelo herself said that she would have supported development around and including her neighborhood. She would have even sacrificed her home for a true public good. But she and her neighbors were not consulted about the plan for their neighborhood, and outsiders to the city made the decision to raze historic homes in the name of urban renewal, and Kelo and her neighbors fought back. An ugly legal and public relations battle ensued over an eight year period, outlasting Pfizer's most profitable years and the real estate/economic boom of the 2000s, and no development ever occurred. Had the city government of New London, the NLDC, and the former CT governor John Rowland, actually consulted the residents of New London and included them in their decision-making, the development of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood probably would have happened! The area surrounding the Pfizer property might have the shops, hotel and housing that Claire Gaudiani, the evil genius behind this debacle, had envisioned. Instead of a modern, mixed-use community by the water, there is a gorgeous modern Pfizer facility surrounded by dirty, empty lots. Houses were bulldozed, elderly residents died in the midst of the battle, and for nothing. The ending to this story is a sad one- but you will be energized by reading about the courageous battle waged against government by Susette Kelo and her neighbors.