[StBernard] Parish Threatens To Tear Down Renovated Home

[Westley Annis]

A Government Big Enough to Give You Everything You Want is Powerful Enough to Take Everything You Have — Thomas Jefferson”

many who may make favorable comments about illegal demolitions may also be those who see nothing wrong with banning single-family dwelling rentals only in the Murphy buyup area, or denial of building permits only in the Village Square area --- coupled with the giving of development rights only to one special out of town developer or corporation

some may praise the demolitions without realizing the condemnation and appeals process is lacking at best in the notifications, if not more private property rights issues.  while the local blight laws must be enforced and there are always some who will misuse the appeals process with no intention of securing the house or maintaining the yard, there are numerous others who are working on the homes only to find what they have rebuilt has been taken.  

on another property right issue, there are families in homes and neighborhoods long-since revitalized, and unknown to them, they have been designated to be bought out for another's profit.  the government should never push the property nor home owner towards buyups and the taking of private property, be it through denial of residential redevelopment rights, denial of participation in the LLT Lot Next Door Program, rental PUPs or even a moratorium on building permits to support the giving of commercial or20industrial redevelopment to another, well ...it is unconscionable in my limited understanding

the end doesnot justify the means

SJK

-----Original Message-----
"I am
 surprised at the lack of favorable comments relative to the demolition
of condemmed homes in St. Bernard.  I know that I am not alone in praising
Craig Taffaro for getting the demolitons moving again.  --JFR."

Jer Responds:

Overall good? It's probably the best IF the one who gets ripped of his/her
home is not in that number. It must be noted that not everyone in the U.S.
is at the same economic and financial level. If one is surprised at why
there are a "lack of favorable comments" instead of condemnation, it is
because those who wish to see others lose their home (and in this example)
it was overwhelming to even envision this occurring in America. 

Does one laugh when the bulldozer is ripping apart one's home? Does it
matter whether the home was owned for 1 year or 30 and have it leveled when
bad luck dictates a person's finances who cannot meet time limits?

I'm not rich by any means either, and if I spent $50,000 trying to get a
home into any livable condition and cannot keep up with others who have a
greater means, I'd bring this one into the courts up to the Supreme Courts
who would lend an ear. I'd bring in the national press to expose what is
broken in America.

I certainly, and I'm sure everyone else would LOVE to be on the losing end
of this argument where one has to choose to eat and pay for medical expenses
and are in the awful position of struggling to pay for restoration beyond
what I20was able to afford.

No one personal is at the same critical juncture simultaneously. And we're
sure, if there are some who are fortunate to have the extra money--that the
underprivileged would God-willing bless them for their generosity.

To those who can help the poor or the hurting homeowner after this disaster,
then by all means do so to avoid hearing about a wrecking ball happening in
any neighborhood.

I would tell you this. If I were a councilman in the neighborhood, or the
Parish President, I would attend every home in the parish where one tends to
lose his/her home to the wrecking crew and determine the individual's
situation on a case-by-case basis. To me, it's cold as the Artic Circle to
remove one's domicile during this hellish nightmare in which we've been
placed. 

--jer--