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LETTERS.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(Letter to the Editor)
Recipe For Abuse
"Story Of Greed" (Editorial, Tuesday) rightly takes issue with a rapidly growing problem in this country. An egregious example of this abuse of eminent domain is taking place in Riviera Beach, Fla.
The city has a dream to be called Harbor Village, a bucolic name for a nonbucolic project. It wants to spend $1.25 billion on a redevelopment plan using eminent domain to condemn 1,700 homes and dislocate more than 5,000 people. The city, hoping to increase the tax base, will then sell the land to commercial developers.
This is the same city that spent $1.9 million of public money on a dilapidated motel. The dream was to remodel it and make a marketplace out of it. The plan failed to produce and has been basically ignored. According to city officials, it wasn't a big enough project.
The latest fiasco Riviera Beach is involved in includes taking the waterfront homes of 20 people to make a boat ramp and a parking lot. The scheme is to have the Palm Beach County Commission seize the property, widen a canal and build the boat ramp and parking lot under the belief it will turn an undervalued property into a boating and shopping mecca.
Obviously, there will be many lawsuits caused by the callous disregard of property rights. One such lawsuit has served to point out the chance for maliciousness. A lawsuit filed by the owner of a waterfront home next to the canal being widened prompted a city council member to state: "Well, if she does that, we'll eminent domain her house."
All that's needed for such abuse is a despotic mayor and city council. Riviera Beach, Fla., has both.
- Two soldiers win R&R trip to Riviera Beach.
- Newspaper article from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) September 8, 2006 700+ words
...Jerome Burdi Sep. 8--RIVIERA BEACH -- Two soldiers based...forward to another tour in Iraq. "If you could, imagine...held every two years. Riviera Beach started sponsoring the...Williams, who served in Iraq last year on patrols...
- Riviera Beach mayor balking at Scripps agreement.
- Newspaper article from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) July 21, 2006 700+ words
...to limit traffic on Singer Island, Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown has threatened...help the biotech industry flourish. Riviera Beach was among the cities that agreed this...said Thursday. "They want to treat Riviera Beach like we are second-class citizens...
- Small Orlando Firm to Run Riviera Beach, Fla., $1.25 Billion Redevelopment.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News November 12, 2002 700+ words
...Ridder/Tribune Business News Nov. 12--RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.--Riviera Beach is about to entrust its $1.25 billion plan...cited as the best proof it can handle the Riviera Beach project has actually been finished. And on...
- Once shunned Riviera Beach rebounds; market ranked second in county for site...
- Magazine article from: South Florida Business Journal Lunsford, Darcie March 27, 1998 700+ words
...000 square feet of vacant space in Riviera Beach. Jolicoeur's firm, Allsteel &...drywall, opened its doors last month in Riviera Beach's once overlooked industrial strip...development officials say have hoisted Riviera Beach to the second most sought-after address...
- Riviera Beach residents say their black community lost votes.
- News wire article from: Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) November 13, 2000 700+ words
Byline: David Zeman RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. _ "I believe there...players roll in the red dirt of a Riviera Beach park. Rolle, 60, was not referring...it is in black enclaves like Riviera Beach where Gore supporters may feel...
- Bush's Air Plan Worries Riviera Beach, Fla., Environmental Activists.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News February 28, 2003 700+ words
...Tribune Business News Feb. 28--RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.--President Bush introduced...activists say that's bad news for Riviera Beach residents who have been trying to get...making upgrades at the 42-year-old Riviera Beach plant, the activists said. "The...
- More Developers Are Looking at Riviera Beach, Fla.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News February 22, 2003 700+ words
...Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 22--RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.--Developers are discovering Riviera Beach -- and, yes, they know all about the town's mercurial past. "We view Riviera Beach as a tremendously untapped community," said...
- Revitalization of port hot topic in Riviera Beach.(Brief Article)
- Magazine article from: South Florida Business Journal GREENBERG, GARY December 10, 1999 700+ words
...Village, is already being supported by Riviera Beach's mayor. The 705-acre port area is within the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency district...redevelop it. The CRA district in Riviera Beach is both under-developed and under...
- Residents Urge Florida Power & Light to Upgrade Riviera Beach Plant.
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News January 19, 2003 700+ words
...Tribune Business News Jan. 19--RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.--Aneda Sanders has a peaceful...Florida Power & Light Co.'s Riviera Beach power plant a couple of blocks away...administration, older plants like the Riviera Beach facility would, under some instances...
- Restoration of Wells Recreation Center in Riviera Beach, Fla., Continues as...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire November 8, 2008 700+ words
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire...team up with KaBOOM!, the City of Riviera Beach and local residents on building project...Recreation Center in the heart of Riviera Beach, Fla., will get a new place to...
