The Institute for Justice, a libertarian-leaning public interest law firm, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday on behalf of several residents of Ocean Springs, who say the small town abused Mississippi's urban renewal laws to brand their close-knit neighborhood, where generations of families have lived, a blighted slum.
The suit argues Ocean Springs' failure to adequately notify residents that their homes were being included in an "urban renewal zone," and Mississippi's failure to require such notification, violate the Fourteenth Amendment right to due process.
"Ocean Springs cannot brand neighborhoods as slums in secret," Institute for Justice senior vice president and litigation director Dana Berliner said in a press release. "Depriving people of their property rights without any process is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution. Ocean Springs should be happy to have such a closely-knit, warm community. It shouldn't try to destroy it."
reason.com
The suit argues Ocean Springs' failure to adequately notify residents that their homes were being included in an "urban renewal zone," and Mississippi's failure to require such notification, violate the Fourteenth Amendment right to due process.
"Ocean Springs cannot brand neighborhoods as slums in secret," Institute for Justice senior vice president and litigation director Dana Berliner said in a press release. "Depriving people of their property rights without any process is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution. Ocean Springs should be happy to have such a closely-knit, warm community. It shouldn't try to destroy it."
Lawsuit: Mississippi town declared houses 'blighted' without notice
Mississippi only gives property owners 10 days to challenge a blight finding that could lead to their house being seized through eminent domain.
reason.com
