Notice the language used referring to the Ohio Revised code. They know what the legal parameters are, I contend it is the moral ones they choose to ignore.

$9,000,000 of taxpayer dollars to purchase yet another property. Better watch your step or the City of Whitehall will come in and take your property for ‘a public use’ too. Precedents are being set citizens. Who’s next, Eden of Whitehall, you, you’re neighborhood? 

Here’s the whole ‘blighted area’ argument again that more and more city’s, like Whitehall, are using to get rid of things they don’t like in order to put in things they do. They can ‘say’ anything they like but it takes a long view to really get perspective. My blogposts have helped that long view.

You notice it leaves the final decision for this to the city council (a majority) but, of course, because they’re so supremely addicted to their close proximity to the Mayor’s power and her campaign finance beneficence, and reliant on her to do their thinking for them, the outcome is already preordained, long view or moral principles be damned.