[Gpdd] MISC: Off-Topic Post: State D.O.T. siezes land, puts people out of business

[texg at cavyinfo.com]

Everyone,

I'm sorry about posting a non-piggie topic, but I am very mad and
upset about this. Since the GPDD is a gathering of friends, I wanted
to share it with my friends - if nothing more than to get this off my
chest. Please, if you reply, *do it off list*!

I just found out this morning that the Maine State Department of
Transportation forced a family restaurant out of business. The
restaurant, the Sail Inn on Rt. 1 in Verona, has been a landmark for
55 years, being located just south of a beautiful, historic
suspension bridge. Due to neglect over the years, the bridge had
deteriorated; last year plans were made to repair and restore the
bridge. Then, this Spring, it was discovered that the neglect had
gone too long, and the bridge would need to be torn down and another
built. (There are other issues here; I won't go deeper into details -
I also won't go into details of other things the D.O.T. has done in
tearing down Maine; contact me off-list).

Evidently, the decision makers decided to invoke a process called
"imminent domain", where property can basically be siezed by the
State without giving fair compensation to the owner. A thriving
restaurant is now out of business, with the owners embittered. The
money the state gave them won't enable them to open another
restaurant; it won't ensure thier future, it won't pay the wages of
the people who worked so very hard to make it a special place to eat.

The Sail Inn was a step back in time, a place where you could get the
best crabmeat rolls in all of Maine, not to mention home-made pies,
biscuits and other goodies. You could sit by a window and look out at
the Waldo-Hancock bridge, and the river streaming far below. On each
table was a peg-puzzle game, and printed on the placemats were
tidbits of fun and trivia. Families ate there, truckers, tourists;
anyone looking for excellent food and friendly people. And now it's
gone, thanks to greed and insensitivity. And, because it's being done
by a state agency, they can do it with impunity. This morning it was
like learning that a friend was killed, and the killer had impunity
and would not suffer any punishment.

I spoke with the Sail Inn's owner. He said about the only thing
anyone could do was write the Maine state Senator, Senator Susan
Collins. At least she could work towards changing an unfair process
so other people wouldn't have their lives pulled out from under them. 

I know this has nothing to do with 99.7% of the people on this list.
Heck, I don't even live in Maine (yet; and now I'm not sure I want
to). But the "imminent domain" process exists in many states. It may
be in yours. "Imminent domain" doesn't apply only to businesses - it
could be your house that the state wants to tear down. If a precedent
can be set - in Maine, or anywhere - so that a victim of this process
has a way to appeal or counter it, it can help anyone that may be
victimized in the future. 

I've taken up enough list space. Thaks for listening. It's not fun
having one of your favorite fun places taken away. If you'd like to
write a letter or e-mail, or discuss this, drop me a note. 

Tex