urban cartography: Eminent Domain in Florida: Abuse, Race War & More

Riviera Beach, Florida - not known as a bastion of civil rights or civil integrity - is considering using eminent domain arguments, recently made much stronger by the Kelo vs. New London decision, to relocated several thousand predominantly black and almost completely working-class residents to clear land for a billion-dollar yacht club and high-end waterfront housing complex, to the delight of private developer Viking Inlet Harbor Properties LLC, the New Jersey developer recently tasked with managing the project. The developer claims they will "use condemnation as a last resort." Riiiight.

John Staluppi, the Florida "businessman" and convicted felon responsible for brokering the deal - he owns some of the land which would be developed, is trying to get ahold of more of it, and stands to make millions - is notorious for his connections and his contributions to the Bush/Cheney campaign.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm a huge me-first rugged individualist, but something about this really chaps my hide. Maybe we should just rename Urban Cartography "Eminent Domainography." Thanks to Metafilter for cluing me in to the plight of the poor yacht owners of Florida.