Empire State Eminent Domain

An analysis of the populations living in areas of New York City under threat of condemnation for private development finds that such eminent domain abuse disproportionately targets those who are less well-off and less educated, as well as ethnic and racial minorities—populations least able to fight back to protect their homes and businesses. In New York, even more than elsewhere in the country, eminent domain abuse acts as Robin Hood in reverse, taking from the poor to give to the rich.