Shawn Hanidy Radio Show Guest

[overall]

I don't know how appropriate this post is for this forum but here goes.I was listening to the Shawn Hanidy Radio Show when he interviewed a gentleman who, as it turned out, was a product engineer for Lionel Trains back in it's early days. He actually worked for and knew Joshua Cowan. His first name was Lou. The last name was something like Mongone, I am not sure of the spelling. The main messege of the interview was that Lou was about to loose the home he had lived in for 46 years because the local government wanted to take it away from him and give it to a developer who would build condos on the land. The local government would then be able to collect more tax revenue from the condos than from his single family dwelling. He does not want to move and is quite upset by this injustice being propagated against him.

We, as train enthusists, have received much of our joy in life as a result of this man's work. I just wi***here were something we could do to help him in this situation.I learned that he also served in the Navy during WW2 and is now 88 years old. I do not wi***o turn this into a political forum but it just makes me sick about what he is now being put through.

Any thoughts gentlemen?

George

[Bob Keller]

Tread carefully with this one, fellows.

[dougdagrump]

Abuse of "Eminent Domain Laws", this has recently increased since the last Supreme Court ruling. To me it was inteneded for public projects, schools and such, but not to just improve the communities tax base. [2c]

[tschmidt]

Get the local TV stations involved. That way a lot of public sympathy can go in his direction. Also try your state and federal congressmen.

TomS

[1688torpedo]

Overall! Does Lou Live in New Jersey? Specificly in Essex County? Maybe the local Newspaper/ Radio Station can help out in some manner! Such a shame though.This fellow should be left alone by the Government as he is a senior citizen and does not need any hassles from anyone.Take Care.

[marxalot]

This article points out that they are not moving forward on the project ...yet.... and many States are moving forward with more protection for owners........

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/national/21domain.html?th&emc=th


Jim

[savaglio]

It was on the Sean Hannity show and the gentleman was Lou Anzalone. The city involved was Long Branch, New Jersey. Lou is 88 years old and has lived in his home for over 40 years. He intends to fight the action. The city has offered $300,000 for his property. He and his son believe the property is worth far more than that amount. I did not see anything in the NY Time article that would indicate that the New Jersey action was stalled. This is a complex issue, but politics aside, it is a shame to see a former Lionel product engineer in this situation. The 50's were such a simpler time.

[dougdagrump]

Regardless of who they are or what their prior employment was, to me it is flat out wrong to use these laws to force people out of their homes so a private developer can use the property to build condos or a shopping center or anything other than the original intent of these laws. They do a study, declare an area as "blighted", and anybody not interested in sellig they force out. If I went to almost any area in this country I'd be just about be willing to bet that if you look long enuff you would be able to cook the results to declare almost any area as blighted. The bottom line is "increase the tax base". [2c] [|(]

[Kooljock1]

Worse than that Doug, the Supreme Courts' Kelo decision in New London, CT has become an open invitation for developers, construction companies, and relatives of these groups to run for political office, and then use their "newly granted" "newly invented" right to grab any hunk of property they see fit to cash in for themselves or their freinds/family members.

One can only hope this poorly considered decision will be overturned on review by the new court.

Jon [8D]

[dougdagrump]

I'll drink to that !!!!! [^]

[marxalot]

Not sure about the project being "stalled" but according to the NY Times:

(The New London project is essentially delayed, even after the Supreme Court go-ahead, because of contractual disputes and an unwillingness to forcibly remove the homeowners who sued to save their properties.)

This time can be used to get the State to do something. This topic is even under some consideration in Indiana...............

[pbjwilson]

Don't it always seem to go, You don't know what you've got till it's gone...................

[Anonymous]

It seems like these eminent domain cases are now appearing all over the country. I heard the middle to the end of the interview on the Shawn Hanidy Radio Show and missed the part about Lou working for Lionel. It did not matter. The whole process of using eminent domain to force people off of their own property for commercial development is criminal.

While watching the local news this evening, one of the local delegates plans to submit legislation limiting eminent domain to government projects such as roads, bridges, tunnels etc. It would prohibit developers from using their lobbying efforts to pursuade politicians to use eminent domain for commercial projects. Unfortunately, I do not have a lot of faith that this legislation will pass.

The Mayor of Long Branch indicated that Lou and his family were offered a new condo, as were many of his neighbors, but the family feels that the offer is not equal to what his property is worth. Perhaps a reasonable offer will be made and accepted and Lou can move to a new home. Hopefully this will end on a positive note.

Steven Tapper
Northern Central High Railers

[1688torpedo]

Lou Anzalone was one of the Lionel Employees that helped set up the Assembly line & Machinery for the Motors in Michigan after General Mills bought out Lionel in 1969. They flew him Back & Forth between NJ & Michigan for a few years back then.

[Brutus]

A real shame and I hope he soaks them for millions in legal costs etc.

These cities think they are going to get all this money if they just roll over a few unfortunates, give them some money to walk away, then let some developer save them by bringing in all this money - someday. I agree, this is not what emminent domain was intended to do. If we don't have solid property rights, then our economy will start slip-sliding away.

If they want to offer me twice what my house is worth, however, I can be bought!

The real problem is that often elderly and poor people being hurt can't afford a new home somewhere else even if they get twice what the property was worth.

[dougdagrump]

I don't know all of the history in this particular case but maybe part of the issue is the the longevity of living in one place. He, in my opinion, represents a generation that didn't place an emphasis on moving unless work situations required. Much the same as my step-mother, with the passing of my father their house is bigger than what she really needs, but there are a lot of emotional issues involved. That is her attachment to my father and all the times they shared in that home and she just will not give them up. Her health is not what it should be but even so she will not come to live with us. [2c]

[eZAK]

Get involved in your local and state goverments Before you are foced to get involved!