Trump Administration Presses Cities to Evict Homeowners From Flood Zones

[Ohiogal]

WASHINGTON — The federal government is giving local officials nationwide a painful choice: Agree to use eminent domain to force people out of flood-prone homes, or forfeit a shot at federal money they need to combat climate change.

That choice, part of an effort by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect people from disasters, is facing officials from the Florida Keys to the New Jersey coast, including Miami, Charleston, S.C., and Selma, Ala. Local governments seeking federal money to help people leave flood zones must first commit to push out people who refuse to move.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/climate/government-land-eviction-floods.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage

There’s a paywall, but you can view the article on Incognito mode.

This is going to be extremely unpopular politically, I would think.

[lame54]

1. He's evacuating Miami?

[Ohiogal]

2. From the article....

The Corps applies a relatively simple formula to decide which houses should be condemned, officials said: It estimates how much damage a house is likely to suffer in the next 50 years, then compares that to what it would cost to buy and tear down the house, plus moving expenses for the owner. If the buyout costs less, the homeowner is asked to sell for the assessed value of the home. That price is not negotiable, and neither is the offer.

Many officials have balked, at least for now. Miami-Dade has yet to agree to evict residents, and New Jersey has refused. In the Florida Keys, Roman Gastesi, the county administrator, said he doubted the county commission would approve it.

[virgogal]

3. This policy was

instituted in 2015 so what are the politics that are involved ?

[Ohiogal]

5. ....

“I know what we’re saying” when asking cities to evict people, Jeremy LaDart, an economist with the Corps, said in a 2016 webinar explaining the approach. “In order to do this project with us, you’re going to have to commit to buying out your constituencies and constituents, and doing something that may not be popular.”

[lpbk2713]

4. Fuck 'im.

He's only going to be around for ten more months so let the asshole threaten all he wants to.