Court Opinion

ID: 9680015
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:16:13.856838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:15:06.177684
License: Public Domain

RONNIE L. WHITE,
Judge, dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. In my view, Cen-tene presented sufficient evidence from which the City of Clayton reasonably could have determined that the redevelopment area had become an “economic and social liability.” This phrase demonstrates the legislature’s recognition of the causal connection between economics and social welfare. A decline in the former inevitably undermines the latter, and I would interpret the statute as such. Even assuming the two must be evaluated separately, I would adopt Judge Stith’s definition of “social liability” but would conclude that the City’s finding was supported by enough evidence to withstand this Court’s review. Therefore, I would affirm the order of condemnation.