The City of New London wanted to encourage development. It worked on a plan to piece together property along a riverfront to be used for upscale housing, a new shopping center, and a facility for the Pfizer Company. Some homeowners refused to sell, including Suzette Kelo, who prized her waterfront home, and Wilhelmina Dery, who was born in her home in 1918 and lived there her entire life. The City then used its power of eminent domain to buy the property and provide it to the developers. The homeowners protested that this taking violated the "public use" provision of the Fifth Amendment. The Connecticut courts held the taking as proper. Homeowners appealed.

1. The Court upheld the use of eminent domain to further private economic development. Does this mean any government can force one private landowner to sell so that another private party who wants the land can get it?
2. Why would government favor such actions when local property owners oppose it?