The Day’s editorial on eminent domain, “System worked in wake of historic Kelo ruling” (June 19), is in keeping with its inexplicable 15-plus-year defense of the eminent domain abuse. It admits “mistakes were made” and of course that nothing was ever built on the land taken by eminent domain.

But it still thinks the whole thing was a good idea, done by people who meant well, really, and so we shouldn’t be mad at them. You can say “it’s the thought that counts” when it involves a bad gift, not when it involves someone taking your house. In fact, it’s not the thought that counts at all. Whether New London and the then-NLDC meant well or not, they used their power in a way they shouldn’t have and that shouldn’t be allowed under the law. 

The Day wants to move beyond the controversy to something else. How about legal change in Connecticut, in which eminent domain abuse like what happened in Kelo is still legal? Or, since that’s unlikely, simply reforming New London’s laws to prohibit takings for private development in the future? That would bring some closure in New London and assure homeowners and future developers that what happened in Fort Trumbull won’t happen to them.

Dana Berliner and Scott Bullock

Institute for Justice

Arlington, VA