Local Officials Of Riviera Beach Try To Beat State Legislature To The Punch

Florida legislators recently approved a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain. Gov. Bush has yet to sign the bill, but his spokesman says that he will "as soon as he receives it."

Meanwhile, the local yokels of Riviera Beach raced to sign a contract on a $2.4 billion development which could displace over 5,000 citizens.

The move will likely now pit the city against state lawmakers who stripped municipalities like Riviera Beach from using its eminent domain powers to seize personal property to hand over to private developers.

"We know our enemy is now the Legislature," said Mayor Michael Brown, who insists the project will benefit all residents in this downtrodden town, even those who may be displaced.

Link: Riviera Beach tries to outwit Legislature with eminent domain move: South Florida Sun-Sentinel.