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<br /> <br />I. (' f j (' (' 1"' <br /> <br />A first. We were pleased with Phil Langdon's <br />f.r treatment of the subject of the Kelo case <br />ril). He is the first journalist to examine <br />ow this whole process unfolded, rather than <br />simply focusing on the human interest story <br />as the rest of the press has done. <br />Doug Schwartz <br />Photographer <br />New London, Connecticut <br /> <br />Conflict? According to AP A's development <br />plan, the goal of the association is to encour- <br />age planning that leads to communities and <br />environments that meet the needs of all our <br />citizens. Our slogan is "making great commu- <br />nities happen." <br />With such a goal in mind, I cannot under- <br />stand why AP A filed an amicus brief support- <br />ing the ciry of New London in the Kelo vs. <br />City of New London case. The brief argues <br />"that the state courts long ago abandoned as <br />unworkable and unduly restrictive the notion <br /> <br />that eminent domain should be limited to <br />projects used by the public." This statement <br />seems to be in conflict with our organization's <br />principles. <br />In the early 1980s, the city I work for used <br />eminent domain to raze most of the historic <br />structures and businesses in the downtown <br />area in order to build a mall and strip retail <br />center. Now the mall is failing, and we are <br />trying to create a downtown like the one we <br />had in the past. AP A should be looking to- <br />ward the future and not be taken in by poten- <br />tial short-term economic gains. <br />The U.S. Constitution states very clearly <br />that private property shall "not be taken for <br />public use without just compensation." In the <br />New London case, the government wants to <br />take properties and homes for more tax rev- <br />enue. But does tax revenue equal public use? I <br />am disappointed that AP A as an organization <br />thinks so. <br />Marc P. Bierdzinski, AICP <br />Planning Division Manager <br />Santa Maria, Califtrnia <br /> <br /> <br />Correction. The caption on page 20 of "Complete the Streets" (May) refers to a photo <br />simulation showing how a typical arterial can be converted into a complete street. But only <br />the "before" image is shown. Here are the "before" (above) and the "after" views. <br /> <br /> <br />American Planning Association 49 <br /> <br />f <br />f <br /> <br /> <br />THE <br />CORRADINO <br />GROUP <br />