Why Did Connecticut Governor Rell Extend the Kelo New London Holdouts’ Settlement Deadline to June 22?

Recapping the Situation

The image of the area from Google maps is dated. Most of the properties in the area have been razed, but the placements of the various properties involved in recent settlements, the remaining holdouts, and the high-powered, politically-connected Italian Dramatic Club are accurate:

Kelo and Cristofaro remain in their homes, pending eviction and demolition, or settlement. The high-powered, politically-connected Italian Dramatic Club (IDC) also remains, but will stay right where it is. That’s because the high-powered, politically-connected IDC, which you will notice is right next door to Cristofaro’s home, was arbitrarily exempted from eminent domain by the City of New London and The New London Development Corporation (NLDC) in the late 1990s. The Supreme Court rendered its outrageous Kelo v. New London decision last year in full knowledge of the exception made for the high-powered, politically-connected IDC by the powers that be. (I am emphasizing the treatment of the high-powered, politically-connected Italian Dramatic Club because I believe it remains the dirtiest and most inexcusably underreported aspect of this entire corrupt enterprise.)

For more background, including all posts since August 2005, going back to when the city initiated its first heavyhanded efforts at forcing settlements or evictions, see The Kelo New London Collection.

The Governor’s Deadline Extension

Here’s the 6PM time-stamped story from Friday’s New London Day, which, again, appears to be the only publication following what may be the final chapter of the Kelo saga (link requires registration after one day, and a paid subscription after seven days; June 17 update — the state wire for AP put out an abbreviated version of the story from The Day, which has been picked by about a half-dozen area news outlets):

Rell gives Fort Trumbull holdouts until Thursday to settle

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has extended until Thursday her deadline for the two remaining plaintiffs in the Fort Trumbull development project to reach settlement agreements with the city.

Rell had earlier said that Susette Kelo and Pasquale Cristofaro had to strike deals with the city by June 15 or the state would rescind the extra money it has offered to try to convince the two to surrender their properties at Fort Trumbull without being forcibly evicted by the city.

But this Thursday’s deadline came and went with negotiators from the state and city and the former property owners themselves in around-the-clock talks, trying to find a compromise that would end the final chapter of the fight over the city’s taking of the homes for a mixed-use economic development project.

“The governor had a deadline yesterday, which she felt very strongly about, but she felt equally strong that resolution to the remaining disputes is vitally important to New London and the region,” said a person familiar with the state’s position, who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks. “Because of the nature of the negotiations, and the fact that multiple parties have come to agree on a number of issues and we’ve gotten some major progress, she has allowed us to continue on our negotiations until next Thursday.”

Interesting that this story has Rell leaning on the holdouts while in yesterday’s post Rell’s pressure seemed more directed towards the city. Without being there, it’s hard to tell for sure where she’s coming from (even being there might not help).

As to the answer to the post’s question, look at the calendar, folks. Thursday is June 22; the day after the deadline passes If form holds, and the intransigence on both sides continues, Rell’s new June 22 deadline will pass. The “trouble” is that Friday, June 23 is the one-year anniversary of the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court decision.

It seems very unlikely that this is a coincidence, but I can’t begin to guess what the Governor has in store for us. My guess is that none of the other parties involved have any idea either.

I would expect that with each passing day as the ruling’s anniversary approaches, more and more attention will be focused on the town that brought us the eminent-domain decision that shook, and shocked, America. If the Governor wants a national audience next Friday, she’ll probably have one. If I were a Northeastern-area property-rights activist, I would strongly consider keeping this coming Friday open.
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June 17 — Wizbang Weekend Trackback Carnival Participant; Gribbit’s Open Trackbacks Participant.