Last Monday the Supreme Court squashed a long running challenge by the owners of the Hotel San Remo in North Beach concerning a $567,000 fee they were required to pay to the city in order to convert their property from rental units to hotel rooms. Having already lost legal challenges in both the State Supreme and Federal courts, that fee is probably looking like chump-change compared to their legal bills.
Then, just three days later, the Supreme Court ruled against homeowners in New London, Connecticut who challenged the local governments right to seize their property for private economic development.
Tough week for property rights advocates from coast to coast.
· Hotel San Remo Property Rights Case Chronology [San Remo Hotel]
· Supreme Court Upholds Local Regulations on Private Property [LA Times]
· Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes [Chronicle]
· Eminent domain: A big-box bonanza? [Money]