By Matt Sepic
St. Louis, MO – Opponents of eminent domain marked the anniversary of a controversial US Supreme Court decision with a protest at St. Louis city hall Friday.
One year ago, the high court ruled that local governments may use eminent domain to obtain private homes and businesses, even to make way for private development projects.
Missouri lawmakers passed legislation this year in response to the ruling, but it has its opponents.
"It didn't go into defining blight," said Republican Congressional candidate Leslie Farr. "It didn't establish a parcel-by-parcel blighting system. It did not do several things which would be key to protecting property owners' rights in the city of St. Louis."
The law, however, does increase the compensation developers must pay to home and business owners.