In 2005 the supreme court ruled in favor of the city of New London in a landmark eminent domain case. But there’s much more to the story.

The ruling was widely criticized – because it allowed land to be transferred from private home owners to a private development company – to bring more money to the city through higher tax revenues. Some municipal leaders, including mayors in Connecticut, supported the ruling – as a way to revitalize struggling cities.

But it also raised populist anger over the taking of private property. Home owner Susette Kelo was forced to leave her little pink house – after a nearly eight year battle. Today the 90 acre Fort Trumbull Redevelopment project is still an empty lot – however the case has prompted seven states to pass constitutional amendments to ban taking private property for economic development.

Today, Where We Live, we’ll talk to Jeff Benedict - about his latest book Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage – about the fascinating Kelo case, and the impact it had on New London.