Popular Family Store Fights Bogus Eminent Domain

Can the government take your land just because they don’t like you? That’s happening to Brinkmann’s Hardware, a beloved local store in Long Island. After a lengthy fight, the town of Southhold, NY is now trying to take their land away through eminent domain—all to protect another business from competition.

Today we talk with Hank Brinkmann and IJ Senior Attorney Jeff Redfern about how Brinkmann’s Hardware went from a small family shop to a champion of property rights—and their path all the way to the Supreme Court.

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[Pepperboy]

I was eminent domain by the city of Mesa, Arizona because they wanted a local hardware store to relocate to the corner my house was located. Thanks to IJ bailey’s brakes was able to fight and win against the City.

[jeffschroeder]

This case has to involve finding out exactly who is behind this? This must have already cost the town LOTS of money in legal fees, some people on the city council need to face elections and be required to explain how their expenditures actually benefit the town. Good hardware stores are a great asset for any town.

[BirdDogey]

I've seen the Planning Commission used to stop projects or licenses in order to protect favored sons in town. This is where much of the abuse occurs.

[freethebirds]

Found the IJ through Steve Lehto, and I love them.
IJ will be named in our will.

[montwolfman]

My $90/mth. doing good work. Thank you I.J. for helping the Brinkman family. I'm proud that I can be a small part of the fight for justice.

[davidf]

Tell people in power are actually held accountable for there actions this kinda of stuff will never change.

[kifley]

If the government is going to take your land by force, they should be required to pay 4x the value of your property.

[ergoone]

Excellent video. And *infuriating* story. Thanks for not caving, Mr Brinkmann. Things like this shouldn't happen in America.:/

[PepeToTheMooon]

Eminent domain is basically “hey we don’t want you here so we’ll make an excuse to make sure we get rid of you.”

[johnnytx]

The lawyer on the other side has past dealings with the town. That should be obvious.

[Paladin]

Our family hardware business began in 1869 and ran through three generations and five stores, finally closing in the 1990s. In all that time we never faced a situation such as this. I hope you win your case all the way to the SCOTUS. Hopefully they will overturn Kelo v. City of New London (2005) in the process.

[BirdDogey]

A common use of eminent domain of businesses occurs when a massive redevelopment project is planned. A property owner has a parcel that are unwilling to sell. These are often strip malls that are not kept up. Sometimes they have foreign owners who have little interest in the holding. The city will use eminent domain to buy the property and convert its use. For example, a strip mall that generates very little revenue is in a prime location. Sometimes they require frequent police response. The city is courting hotel chains which are big revenue generators. The owner of the strip mall chooses not to sell. The city would then use eminent domain to purchase the property and enter into an agreement with X for its development.

[shawnclawson]

Tbe fact that we as a countey have fallen so much that eminent domain has to be explained ro viewers is worse than the town using eminent domain

[jeaboadhd]

Sounds like the city is more like an HOA.

[ConradDunkerson]

Once upon a time, eminent domain was a 'necessary evil'. We couldn't have built railroads across this country or the interstate highway system or telecommunications or the internet if every single person in the country could potentially go out and buy a plot of land along the route one of those projects was following and then refuse to sell. The government HAD to be able to 'force sale of property' to enable these vital projects to be completed.

However, since then it has morphed into nearly 'the government can buy your land for any reason so long as they pretend to believe it will benefit the community'.

[alb]

Money talks in NY. In Albany they want to build a Costco, courts had no problem with their eminent domain takeover of an entire neighborhood.

[robr]

As a long-islander, I can confirm the towns around here are super corrupt.

[dirkz.duggitz]

I'm baffled that eminent domain and civil forfeiture aren't direct violations of our rights.

[umaxen]

MY historic city hall now keeps it's doors locked 24/7. When I go there, I ring the door buzzer and simply tell them to open the public building...

[alb]

IJ should look into the town of Guilderland / Costco lawsuits. Unreal what flies in NY with eminent domain.