Imagine planning your dream project—building a medical office right across from a new hospital in Utica, New York. But then, bam, the government steps in and says, “Sorry, we’re taking your land for a parking lot.” Sounds like something out of a nightmare, right?
This is what happened to Bryan Bowers and his business partner, Mike Licata. Their plan was squashed when the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) swooped in and snatched their property to benefit a competitor next door. And guess what? A state appeals court backed this move!
It all goes back to a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2005 (Kelo v. City of New London), where the court allowed the government to take private property and hand it over to other private businesses if it’s for “economic development.” Ever since then, many people have feared that their homes or businesses could be taken for the “greater good”—which often means just benefiting bigger companies.
Bryan’s case is another chance for the Supreme Court to rethink this decision. He believes the government shouldn’t take property just to help out a competitor. After all, how is taking land for a parking lot a public use?
What do you think—should the government have the power to take private property just to help another business? Or should property rights be protected no matter what? Let’s hope the Supreme Court takes a stand and answers this once and for all!
