I got my picture in Tuesday March 20, 2007’s Keene Sentinel, looking very somber with a “Eminent Domain = Stealing” sign. I didn’t care much about the expansion vs roundabout issue, until they brought eminent domain into the mix. Now as I understand it, Tom Eaton’s funeral home sits on a lot with a funny little peninsula that due to set-backs is unbuildable. Tom objects to the expense and inefficiency that has plagued this project for years. So, he is unwilling to sell his property to the city for this boondoggle. This man holds the lynch pin for the whole project! Well not really. He holds the lynch pin for the most expensive way to do the project. I for one support him and I will go so far as to call anyone that wants to force him to sell a THIEF!. Your mom taught you not to steal and being the government doesn’t make it OK.
Those that want to use eminent domain on Mr. Eaton are in two camps. Those that simply want their roundabout and don’t care how they get it, and those that have a vendetta from his days in the State Senate. The latter are playing a dangerous game. If it is OK to use the government to steal from a man you hate, then it is OK to use it to steal from you. The former’s game is just as dangerous. They say “We want X so badly we will take it from you”. To them I would say I hope that the city government doesn’t want to something from you one day.
Who is the winner here? The Civil Engineering company. The more they spend the more they make. Of course they advocate an the most expensive solution, it nets them the most money.
I propose a humble solution, a low cost solution. Treat us like adults. Remove the left-hand turn red lights. I understand left hand green arrows, but the red ones that prevent one from turning left across an unobstructed oncoming lane, no. Now I realize that my proposal requires personal discretion and that can be scary. But it will help alleviate some of the wait, its low cost, and no one will die. Its a 25 mph zone for god’s sake!
This project has been years in the making; give my proposal a year and see how much it helps. Most importantly leave Tom Eaton’s property alone!
