Little Pink House_ A True Story of Defiance and Courage - Jeff Benedict [161]
She didn’t like what she heard. It sounded like Londregan and Albright were in cahoots and the holdouts now had no choice.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“I think it’s a bluff,” Bullock said.
She wanted some assurance. Bullock said he couldn’t be certain, but he suspected that the governor would do anything to avoid the prospect of forcing people from their homes. He said he’d call Albright and talk with him.
Under immense pressure from the state, Albright now made his best pitch to Bullock. The city was done playing. And when they quit playing, the incentive for the state to keep its money on the table would also disappear. Albright had been dealing directly with the governor’s chief of staff and the clear message she had sent was that today was do or die. “We need an answer today, Scott, or I think it’s done,” Albright told him. “I think the governor will walk away.”
Bullock told Albright he’d get back to him by the end of the day. He checked in with each of the remaining holdouts except Von Winkle and explained the situation. The dispute had come down to a high-stakes game of chicken. By breaking the deadline, the holdouts risked losing their homes and being saddled with enormous back taxes and occupancy fees. But the state, Bullock argued, was taking an even bigger chance. If it walked away from the table at the midnight deadline, the state risked the spectacle of the city dispatching law-enforcement officials to drag Susette and others from their homes on national television.
“I’m staying,” Susette said.
The others agreed.
Bullock got hold of Albright. “We’re not settling today and you can walk away if you want.”
Albright contacted the governor’s office with good news and bad news. Two had settled; four had not.
The governor wanted a read on the remaining four.
Albright had made little headway with them. Von Winkle was, for now, out of the picture, due to his son’s death. As a nonresident of New London, Beyer remained a possible candidate for settlement if the state came up with enough money. But the Cristofaros and Susette were adamantly opposed to settling under any terms.
What now?
One thing was clear: money and a drop-dead deadline weren’t going to do the trick. And no doubt Londregan and the city were ready to pull the trigger on eviction proceedings. The governor needed a new plan, and she needed it fast.
With three hours to go until midnight, a satellite broadcast truck from the Fox News Network’s Hannity & Colmes show was stationed on the street in front of Susette’s house. A massive spotlight illuminated her house as the program came on the air.
“The nationwide battle over eminent domain began with this home one year ago with the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Kelo v. the City of New London, Connecticut. Tonight marks the deadline given by the city for the homeowners to sell off their properties. The city council can begin eviction procedures with a vote on Monday. Joining us now from her home is Susette Kelo. And joining us from Washington is her attorney Scott Bullock. Susette, welcome,” said Alan Colmes. “I guess right in back of you is the home that started this whole case. And you’re not going to sell, correct?”
“Correct,” she said. “I think we need to understand that none of us are selling. Our properties were taken by eminent domain.”
Colmes turned to Bullock. “What happens now? She doesn’t sell. The city says the deadline is right here? So what happens after this?”
“We hope that cooler heads prevail,” Bullock said. “This is land that isn’t needed for development.”
“Hey, Susette, it’s Sean Hannity here. Did you ever dream that one day you’d have a landmark Supreme Court decision with your name on it?”
“It’s more like a living nightmare than a dream.”
Hannity told Susette he’d probably side with the city if they wanted her home to make way for a school or a highway. But he knew that wasn’t the case. “If they’re going to knock your