ITS YOUR LAND:Fighting for the Family Farm
May 20, 2010 - 11:02 AM | by: Eric Shawn
"It's a perverse use of eminent domain," says Brian Rainville. There is no public good here."
He stood on a green field, filled with alfalfa and grass, on the gentle rolling hills of his family's Franklin, Vermont farm
just steps from the Canadian border. He says the barn dates back to 1800, and the land is on the national registry of historic places. But Brians family, who have been dairy farmers here since 1946, may not have the land much longer. The United States Government says it needs 4.9 acres of the familys property to help protect national security.
The Rainville farm sits on the Morses Line border crossing, a sparsely used two lane blacktop with an aging Customs and Border Protection building that the Department of Homeland Security wants to modernize and expand. The agency plans to use stimulus funds to build a new $8 million dollar, multi-lane complex, and says it needs the nearly five acres of the Rainville's farmland to complete it.
The Rainvilles say the project will put their farm out of business. With the farm losing money, every inch of land is needed, especially the land they use to grow hay to support their cows for the production of milk.
"We are in a good fight here," says Brian, "This has been a good living for three generations. We are only the third family in 200 years to own the property, and the thought that our own government is going to destroy us! This has been our American dream for a century, it can't end that way," he says sadly.
The crossing is lightly used. Government statistics from the Customs and Border Protection agency show just over 14,800 vehicles cross the border every year. That works out to about 40 cars a day, or roughly two and a half an hour. The crossing is not even open 24 hours a day. Brian thinks it should be closed completely, and the traffic moved to larger crossings nearby. But the government is intent on upgrading the facility, which includes the small customs building built in the 1930's, that sports a small bench with handcuffs.
"The Morses Line Port is more than seventy years old and has dilapidated infrastructure and outdated technology," said Customs and Border Protection spokesman Rafael Lemaitre in a statement to Fox News.
"By making critical upgrades to the Port, we will meet essential Post-9/11 security and operational standards while fulfilling the economic goals of the recovery act."
Lemaitre says the agency takes the concerns "very seriously," and wants to "work to find a solution that balances security with the needs of the local community."
Vermont Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy told a Senate hearing that "people have been driving back and forth on that roadway for decades," and that the plan is "creating animosity." Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano promised to conduct a public hearing on the issue, and to "have a meeting with the community." She also said there are efforts to reduce the amount of land her agency would need for the project, but that there is a minimum amount of land that would be needed, and unless you do it, you might as well not do it at all, she said.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is beefing up crossings on both the borders of Canada and Mexico, and has received $420 million in stimulus funds for that purpose. The agency also says the project will help the local Vermont economy, by providing more than 90 jobs. The agency says modernizing the Morses Line Port will address a critical national security need. The goal of Homeland Security officials remains the protection of our country, and the agency insists it is working in a way to balance the local concerns with its mandate to protect the nation.
The government has offered $39,500 for the acreage, but Brian remains adamant. His 70 year old father still milks the cows, as he has since he was six years old, and his brother also works the farm. Brian, who teaches High School history and civics classes, has created the e-mail site: Saveourfarm@hotmail.com, to generate support.
"As a civics teacher, I'm astounded," he told Fox News."I talk to my students about a responsive government, a government that protects rights, a government that protects property. And I have a representative of my own federal government, sit down in my parents' kitchen and tell them that the federal government sees no reason why they should keep their land?" he says angrily.
"We've been lied to, I've been misled and I've had enough of it," he says defiantly. "It's heartbreaking."
If the government does resort to using eminent domain, Brian says "the message is we don't care what you do, or how long you have been there. If we want it, get out of our way. And that's not the United States of America."
This really had me wondering, so I found everything I could about it. Apparently the Grandfather came down from Canada to start farming. The have 300 acres, 60 in production, some in wood lot and have 90 milk cows. The owner is either 69 or 70 and the farm is losing money. They are looking into raising canola to become more energy efficient. The Gov't wants either 4.9 acres or 10.5 depending on which article one reads. The family had been offered $39,000 or it's worth $500,000, again depending on which article is read. It should be interesting to see how this develops.
Just had my laugh of the day LOL.......watched a report about this on FOX .............they were interviewing the Farmer......just to start with .......I agree with his feelin the government should just go take a flyin you know what at a roooollin doughnut.....BUT what he said was so hilarious........news guy asked him "If Homeland Security gets away with this what message is this sending"
Farmer" Well its sayin that the government can use Imminent Domain and take your land if they think they can put it to better use than you are and there is nothin you can do about. It's importance to your history makes no difference to them.....and that's just not America"
News guy; "we have got all kinds of messages about how the government should respect people history, culture, the fact that the farmer was there first, etc etc etc
It is so ironic as to be ridiculous that the very same people who have been raggin me about my opinion of what the "American" government did to some of my ancestors are now up in arms about the very same thing happenin to THIS guy. Maybe what I said about karma and what goes around comes around AIN'T just sour grapes.
And I still think there is more to that Vermont farm story than is being written about. It's a little too slick that the various reports aren't reporting the same "facts." Heck, they could be "hired" to keep an eye on the crossing or rent the land to the Gov't for income or make a deal for the Gov't to make up the lost hay from the land they want. They said the farm is losing moo-ney ;D If so then it becomes an expensive hobby. I'd like to know what's really going on, since the news media brought it up.
But but Pam! This is different, these are REAL AMERICANS! (Sarcasm is dripping) :P
Where's the WASP spray? ;D ;D ;D I like a little diversity in my life. Keeps me grounded. Considering the old farmer was CANADIAN, I wonder what else we can dig up...Like maybe some Indian heritage or even, gasp...French! Sorry, the smart Alec in me just popped the lid off my head. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: pamagain on May 23, 2010, 09:50:43 AM
...It is so ironic as to be ridiculous that the very same people who have been raggin me about my opinion of what the "American" government did to some of my ancestors are now up in arms about the very same thing happenin to THIS guy. Maybe what I said about karma and what goes around comes around AIN'T just sour grapes.
You know, you've got a pretty twisted sense of karma. But hey, if the gov't steals this guys family farm at least then he will have an excuse to become a drunk, have no job, live (by choice) in a slum-like enviroment, while complaining that his lot in life is not his fault.
QuoteYou know, you've got a pretty twisted sense of karma. But hey, if the gov't steals this guys family farm at least then he will have an excuse to become a drunk, have no job, live (by choice) in a slum-like enviroment, while complaining that his lot in life is not his fault.
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Varmit, while at least at first glance I don't agree with what is happening, the Gov't is hardly stealing the farm.They are wanting to buy a small part of it. After all this bad publicity I expect it all to change anyway. I'm a little doubtful that 5.9 acres is worth $500.000.00.... I wonder what the neighboring farmers would say to that. Varmit, did you read any of the other articles? I'll be interested to see how this plays out.
To Whom it may concern~~~
Have you ever had anything "seized" by the government? When that shoe is on the other foot, it may be a pretty tight squeeze.
I think it is pretty sad that you can work all of your life for something and then the Powers that be ( ass holes in my estimation) can come in and say, " Sorry buddy, we want this and we are taking it, so you have no choice".
It just ain't right !!!!
I totally agree. The government should NEVER have had that kind of power THEN or NOW. Yeah they took grandads land in Arkansas so they could build a lake.
Jo, I hate to disagree with one of my favorite and highly respected elders, but without the right of "Eminent Domain", you would not have electricity, Highways, Gasoline, Natural Gas, Water in your House, Telephones in your Homes and many other necessities that we enjoy in this country.
Frank
I'm glad you still like me~~~~~holding my sides - laughing.
LY