What people are saying:

Scott, Hewitt & Mize members. I have followed your story from the beginning when it started back in 2004 when the city decided they needed your property for the Kidwell business park. I have lived in Independence my entire life and now am retired. I have followed up and researched statements made by both the city and your group. I have found that every statement and comment that you have stated is completely correct and true. I have yet to find any inaccurate information in any of your comments or stories. I have found several misstated comments from the city staff and members of the council including Mayor Stewart and council member Jason White. The biggest misleading statement by the city staff is that this was good for Independence citizens because they are getting a road built for them for free. The truth is as Tom Scott stated at a council meeting and in the newspaper is the city is really not getting a free road. The city will be building at least 1/3 of the new road and Kidwell will be building the road just through his development. Again just another occasion when the city tells you what they want you to hear. I just think that needed to be said hoping that you would post this on your website for others to see. God bless you Tom Scott and keep up the fight. I wish you would have entered the race for Mayor.

I happened to be watching the December 19th council meeting when Jason White and Mayor Stewart made the unprofessional attempt to chastise your group in public after your group exposed the city again to there under the table dealings and catering to developers. How you kept from going up to Jason White and decking him I will never know. My only guess is that you were warned by your attorney to stay in control. If any council member ever deserved to be knocked into next week it was Mr. White at that meeting. We all can now hope that the rest of the citizens of Independence happened to see Mr. White unprofessional conduct and he is not voted back into office next April. Keep up the fight for all of Independence and don’t give an inch to these lying government land thief’s.

Scott, Hewitt & Mize, this is totally unbelievable. Do we live in Russia or is it Independence the home of President Harry Truman. Take from the little guy and give to the big rich developer. As Harry Truman would say, give them HELL Scott, Hewitt & Mize. This city has been all about dollars since Stewart has been Mayor anyway.

Mr. Scott great job on TV-7 and letting the public know about the 147 year time frame it will take the city to re-coop its money for the Noland Road eminent domain land TIF. I cannot believe this city made such a foolish decision’s. At the rate this TIF is being paid off my grandchildren’s, grandchildren will still be paying for this pathetic city decision. You guys are my heroes for standing up to these crooked bully politicians. Thank God someone finally has gotten the guts to put these lying stealing thief’s in there place. Don’t stop until you win. Make these city officials pay for stealing your property. I got to believe every jury in America would rule in your favor. Great work!

How can it be the city is not paying one cent for the taking of your property and the out of town developer is paying all cost? Most people are smart enough to figure out this must favor the developer and his development or he would not be paying all cost. Sounds like a ram rod situation for the property owners. It looks like the city is kissing another developer’s behind. The last time the city catered to promises they ended up with several blocks of torn down Noland Road businesses and nothing ever rebuilt. You would think the city would wake up to promises from developers. Best of luck to you and keep the faith.

City of Independence Government you Steal, Lie, Steal, Lie, Steal, Lie, Steal, Lie then give to a developer so he can become even wealthier. This is totally pathetic. Why would anyone want to move to this community?

Great Website we are behind you all the way. What has been done to you has been done way too often in this “Land of the Free”. I also live in Missouri and know this has been an issue in this state. Independence officials sound like they stick there noses into situations were they don’t belong. It also appears they use eminent domain with no regards to citizen’s rights. Best of luck to you. We will be keeping track of the events on your website.

I have lived in the city of Independence, Missouri for my entire life. This just one more example of the bullying tactics these people in our city government try using on their residents. Several years ago, I was told that the city would redevelop the 1100 through 1600 blocks of Noland road with an anchor grocery and several small businesses. So far, all I see as I leave my neighborhood are a bunch of additional inventory from the local car dealers on the miracle mile parked were my new grocery store and shops were to be built. Very disappointing to a lifetime resident. I guess the hopes of big government in a small city are too much of an enticement to treat their citizens with any respect. Thank you for having the pride and fortitude to stand up to these people for the rest of us. God Bless you, Sir!

This really puts a thorn in my claw. MO and KS are the WORST at Eminent Domain. I think it is time for people to start making their voices heard to get things to change. WAKE UP! Now I am no scholar, consider this coming from your local country bumpkin but this is wrong. It is legally stealing. I can reasonably see a few feet or even yards depending on situation. But acres? Ok Big Corporations out there if you pay our City bills we will evoke a law to get you your land from our resident. We will not mention the kickback for taxes we will get for years. COME ON? IOW the City gets the money from stealing it from one of its residents that actually worked hard to earn the money to pay their bills. This irritates me to no end! No it truly sickens me. Hoping a change will come. I am in no position to buy such a property, I have 3 rural acres, but because you do...It gives me HOPE. Guess the American dream is only as good as the city you live in eh? May Gods peace be with you while seeking justice for this!

Good luck to you in your fight against the thieving City of Independence, MO. I too am a lifelong resident, and know that this is one of the most corrupt towns in existence. Not only do they steal peoples land in eminent domain grabs, they seem to love pie-in-the-sky sweetheart deals for chosen developers. Of course, they don't have the money to fix crumbling infrastructure without taxing us to death (we have to pay special, EXTRA taxes to MAYBE have decent roads, sewers and property that won't flood), but you can bet they'll have the money to fight you tooth and nail all the way to the Supreme Court if needed so they can keep their stranglehold on this town. Hope everyone realizes that this town is NOT where you want to be unless you can afford to have a local politician in your back pocket.

Keep up the fight. I'm a plaintiff in the Kelo VS New London. We need people like you to send a strong message to our government that stealing land and giving it to a developer so that they can have a sweet heart deal off the backs of honest hard working taxpayers is wrong. DON'T GIVE UP! We Won't. They will have to tear my stone cold fingers from my home before I leave.

Congrats to you for doing this. I live in the Northland and I see Liberty and Kansas City doing the same thing to people. I hope your story opens the eyes of property owners all around the region.