Tell Target: Don't Bulldoze Property Rights!
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Stop Eminent Domain Abuse….Stand Up for Property Rights….Tell Target Corporation to stop this injustice today!
Right now, a group of small business owners are fighting to save their businesses and stop eminent domain abuse in the village of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Village trustees are planning to bulldoze International Plaza to make way for a Target superstore—and for higher tax revenues.
Help us stand up for International Plaza…contact Target today!
For a group of small business owners in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the threat of eminent domain abuse is all too familiar. They've been fighting it for over four years—long before the infamous Kelo decision made it easier for bureaucrats to ignore property rights.
In July of 2002, the Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois handed down a bogus “blighted” designation to the International Plaza, a local shopping center, in order to bulldoze it and put up a Super Target store. This move would boost the Village's tax revenue considerably. It would also trample personal freedoms, private property rights, and many of these business owners’ livelihoods.
Tenants of the Plaza and other supporters fought back with lawsuits, rallies, and speeches at Village Board meetings, but unfortunately, Cook County Circuit Judge James Epstein ruled in favor of the Village in late January, upholding the blighted designation.
However, the business owners at International Plaza are making it clear they won’t go without a fight.
Local coalitions are still spreading the word. The Village of Arlington Heights, however, is only one party in this case of eminent domain abuse. We expect more from Target, a corporation whose website boasts a commitment to making our communities better places to live. This certainly hasn’t been the case in Arlington Heights. Target needs to hear from you.
To stand up for the International Plaza—and to defend small businesses from eminent domain abuse—write a letter to Target’s president at the address below, expressing your disapproval of their partnership with a community that abuses eminent domain.
Click here for a sample letter to Target (MS Word document).
Bob Ulrich
Chairman and CEO
Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
You can also call Target:
Main Number (612) 304-6073
Media Relations (612) 696-3400
Or, if you prefer to e-mail, contact the national Target representative for community giving:
Stephanie Kannel
212-229-0500 ext. 281
skannel@crt-tanaka.com
Additional links of interest:
Jan. 3 Chicago Sun Times article
Feb. 9 Chicago Tribune article
Photo credits: WindyPundit
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