No headline

A Feb. 15 Wall Street Journal titled “We’re from the government and we are here to build a bike path” pretty much describes the conspiracy between our local urban renewal districts (URD) and the Eminent Domain group, or are they one in the same?

The article describes the taking of a waterfront home in New London, Conn., so that a local development corporation could build high-end condominiums and a hotel. Sound familiar?

Prior to Sen. Mary Souza’s Opinion column, I had a mental picture of an individual, probably a local politician, standing with both arms folded across his or her chest with index fingers pointed in opposite directions with the caption reading, “It’s not my fault. Talk to them.” Meaning the state.

Another image I have is one of a luncheon being held in a closed conference room at a local hotel attended by those involved including past and present politicians with a few real estate big wigs present. On the table would be an innocuous salt shaker that was bugged for sound. Folks, try to imagine that conversation.

It doesn’t take geniuses to figure out there is big money involved. The aforementioned group, not just here, but in many cities throughout the nation, have figured out a way to get into the taxpayers’ wallets. Many years ago, I attended a County Commission public hearing where citizens were lined up to protest the latest tax increase, with many stating that they were now in jeopardy of losing their homes. The commissioners’ response to all of the people’s pleas was the same: “Thank you, NEXT.”

The only solution as I see it is term limits and that means one term only so as to limit the harm that can be foisted on the public. Please pass the salt shaker.

MICHAEL J. MURPHY

Hayden