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Sep 3, 2008 2:15 pm US/Eastern
Atlantic City Merchants Battle Eminent Domain
ATLANTIC CITY (AP) ―
The Atlantic City Council is scheduled to vote tonight on a plan to seize the businesses of small property owners to make way for Pinnacle Entertainment's $2 billion casino project.
It is the latest instance of governments in New Jersey seeking to take private property for commercial projects, and comes as the state Supreme Court is wrestling with the issue.
Eminent domain is a legal process by which governments can take control of privately owned property needed for a public purpose after paying fair compensation to the owner.
It originally was used to acquire land for highways, public buildings and airports.
But recently governments in several states have used the process to clear the way for private commercial projects, arguing that the economic activity they generate is itself a public benefit.
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