I don't understand how the government is given the role to create the laws that we as citizens live by, they enforce the rules that they created, but if they (the government) break those laws themselves they are not held accountable for their wrong doing.
I think that we live by a backwards governmental system and I don't think I am alone in thinking so.
In the case of The Munoz's vs. Philadelphia, the same laws that were created for the good of the people are also being used against them by manipulative governmental officals like the RDA and the Philadelphia Housing Authority. They should start acting like grown ups and pay for the crimes that they committed. They should stop dragging innocent people through the mud just so they can get themselves ahead of the game. When it comes down to it, the government just looks at people (such as the Munoz's and many others) as an investment real estate property or a large lump sum of money what they don't consider is that they are messing with PEOPLE'S LIVES.
Submitted by Florencio Infante on Sat, 06/30/2007 - 6:20pm.
I think it's absolutely terrible that because of Goverment's employees omission / neglicence or act of bad faith a honest family like the Munoz had been deeply affected.
The life of the Munoz family is never going to be the same after this incident, this brought mental and physical illnes that will never be repaired. Let's hope that after what was done here the Goverment at least would have the decency to recognize their awful mistake and compensate them.
Fighting Goliath
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
August 20, 2007 Monday
Every once in a great while, government, as a land-grabbing Goliath, gets thumped by the most diminutive David, especially when the former fails to follow its own policies.
That may cost Philadelphia $497,230 in damages, plus the plaintiffs' legal fees.
It began when Ed and Debbie Munoz, in pursuit of the American dream, put up their New Jersey home and borrowed $1 million to buy a grocery and garden center in Juniata Park. Afterward the couple learned -- secondhand through customers -- that their business was in the footprint of a planned housing development.
For more than two years, the Munozes sought answers from the city but said they received none. In 2004, with declining sales -- allegedly because of government's imminent land grab -- and Ed Munoz's declining health, the couple declared bankruptcy. The city picked up the property at a sheriff's sale.
The Munozes went to court.
City officials said it wasn't clear through 2004 whether the Munozes' lot would be needed. Yet an April 2003 letter from the developer asked the city's Redevelopment Authority to acquire the property.
Even the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reportedly warned city officials in 2005 that Philadelphia violated federal relocation law.
So, all's well that ends well? Not quite. Goliath plans an appeal.
Here's hoping these Davids, and all the other Davids facing similar battles for their rights, won't give up the fight.
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Comments
I don't understand how the
I don't understand how the government is given the role to create the laws that we as citizens live by, they enforce the rules that they created, but if they (the government) break those laws themselves they are not held accountable for their wrong doing.
I think that we live by a backwards governmental system and I don't think I am alone in thinking so.
In the case of The Munoz's vs. Philadelphia, the same laws that were created for the good of the people are also being used against them by manipulative governmental officals like the RDA and the Philadelphia Housing Authority. They should start acting like grown ups and pay for the crimes that they committed. They should stop dragging innocent people through the mud just so they can get themselves ahead of the game. When it comes down to it, the government just looks at people (such as the Munoz's and many others) as an investment real estate property or a large lump sum of money what they don't consider is that they are messing with PEOPLE'S LIVES.
I think it's absolutely
I think it's absolutely terrible that because of Goverment's employees omission / neglicence or act of bad faith a honest family like the Munoz had been deeply affected.
The life of the Munoz family is never going to be the same after this incident, this brought mental and physical illnes that will never be repaired. Let's hope that after what was done here the Goverment at least would have the decency to recognize their awful mistake and compensate them.
Fighting Goliath Pittsburgh
Fighting Goliath
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
August 20, 2007 Monday
Every once in a great while, government, as a land-grabbing Goliath, gets thumped by the most diminutive David, especially when the former fails to follow its own policies.
That may cost Philadelphia $497,230 in damages, plus the plaintiffs' legal fees.
It began when Ed and Debbie Munoz, in pursuit of the American dream, put up their New Jersey home and borrowed $1 million to buy a grocery and garden center in Juniata Park. Afterward the couple learned -- secondhand through customers -- that their business was in the footprint of a planned housing development.
For more than two years, the Munozes sought answers from the city but said they received none. In 2004, with declining sales -- allegedly because of government's imminent land grab -- and Ed Munoz's declining health, the couple declared bankruptcy. The city picked up the property at a sheriff's sale.
The Munozes went to court.
City officials said it wasn't clear through 2004 whether the Munozes' lot would be needed. Yet an April 2003 letter from the developer asked the city's Redevelopment Authority to acquire the property.
Even the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reportedly warned city officials in 2005 that Philadelphia violated federal relocation law.
So, all's well that ends well? Not quite. Goliath plans an appeal.
Here's hoping these Davids, and all the other Davids facing similar battles for their rights, won't give up the fight.