Media Advisory

EVENT:

1) News Conference: Institute for Justice and Lakewood Homeowners To File Lawsuit Challenging Bogus ?Blight? Designation

2) Rally: Lakewood Homeowners Protest Development Agreement

TIME/DATE:

1) News Conference: 2 p.m./Monday, May 19, 2003
2) Rally: 6 p.m./Monday, May 19, 2003 (prior to City Council meeting)

PLACE:

1) News Conference:
Steps of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
1200 Ontario Street (southwest corner of Lakeside and Ontario)
Cleveland, OH

2) Rally:
Lakewood City Hall
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH

PARTICIPANTS:

News Conference:
Dana Berliner, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice
Bert Gall, Staff Attorney, Institute for Justice
Jim Saleet, Lakewood Homeowner
Julie Wiltse, Lakewood Homeowner

CONTACT:

Lisa Knepper, Director of Communications
Institute for Justice, (703) 682-9320 ext. 202

SUMMARY:

May a city government declare homes and small businesses in an attractive, well-kept neighborhood ?blighted,? bulldoze them, and then hand the land on which they stood to a private developer?

In Lakewood, Ohio—and in towns and cities across the nation—local bureaucrats believe the answer is ?yes,? but the owners of 18 homes and small businesses in Lakewood’s West End neighborhood are hoping to prove them wrong. In a news conference at 2 p.m. today on the steps of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice and Lakewood homeowners will announce a lawsuit challenging the City of Lakewood’s designation of ?blight? in the West End neighborhood, aiming to prevent the City from condemning these homes and businesses and handing the land to private developers.

At 6 p.m. today on the steps of Lakewood City Hall, Lakewood property owners will hold a rally to protest the development plan that threatens their homes and businesses. The rally will take place immediately prior to a Lakewood City Council meeting at which City Council members are scheduled to vote on an agreement with developers.