Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation.

Three years ago the nation was shocked by the US Supreme Court decision in the Kelo v New London case.  In this decision the Supremes said it was OK for the government to take private property from one person and turn it over to another for their private gain.  Property owners, small business owners, citizens and the media were outraged.  A few politicians made the appropriate tsk tsks and some even proposed legislation that would strengthen individual property rights and protect them from the greedy grasp of government gone amok.  However, as time went by, our anger subsided and eventually the words “eminent domain” and “Kelo” faded into the recesses of the past. 
 
Well, it is time to put Kelo center stage again and to remind ourselves that we are ultimately responsible for protecting what is rightfully ours. 
 
On The Commons this week we will be going back to the past and remembering what it is like to be on the verge of losing our homes.  Please join us On The Commons this Saturday, June 21, 2008.  We’ll talk a little bit about the what is being done to commemorate the anniversary of that horrible decision and hear from both Susette Kelo and Michael Cristofaro.  The Institute for Justice, the organization that defended Susette, Mike and a whole host of other homeowners, says 10,000 American property owners were either threatened by, or actually lost their homes to eminent domain.  To mark the occasion, they would like to have 10,000 contributions.  They don’t have to be large, but every penny raised here will go towards fighting the abuses of eminent domain.  To make your pledge go to IJ.org and just sign up.

On the Commons is produced by OTC Multimedia Productions