Eminent Domain Abuse Mapped

There's a new map out pinpointing Eminent Domain abuse around the country, with heavy clusters along the Northeast corridor, California, and a Midwest stretch from Chicago through northern Indiana and Ohio.

See the Castle Coalition map here. It's a project of the Institute for Justice, which has been fighting this for some time. Select Illinois and you will get an eyeful. There have been condemnations in Highland Park, threatened condemnations in Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, the list goes on, typically achieved by "bogus blight definitions".

Some bills have been introduced in the Illinios legislature to curb eminent domain.

And here is the Eminent Domain Survival Guide, with tips on handling media and lobbying officials.

There are some success stories, but many current battles, including the Kelo case in New London, CT, where the Governor has stepped in to help the embattled homeowners against their town.