OPPOSITION TO EMINENT DOMAIN RULING

From the Hartford Business Journal (July 11, 2005): The General Assembly's House Minority Leader Rep. Robert M. Ward (R-North Branford) is leading an effort to legislate a ban on the seizure of private property in Connecticut for economic development. This comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that expands a city's power to take over personal property. While not aware of any formal opposition, Ward anticipates that leaders of some of Connecticut's largest cities, including Mayor John Destefano of New Haven and Mayor Dan Malloy of Stamford, would oppose the bill. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities does not favor Ward's initiative, arguing that towns have used their eminent domain powers "cautiously, not wildly, as has been portrayed."