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78 year old company threatened by eminent domain

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    Protest banner also forced to come down

  • Duration 3:25
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That's outrageous story first his 788 year old business was threatens to be seized and taken over by the city now.

Our next guest is being forced to take down the banner.

That he put up pro testing that take over the sign reads fifty years on this street 78 years in north -- 100 it workers threatened by eminent domain the city of Norfolk says it violates a sign code.

It once that taken down it wants that building it wants that business.

Joining us are Bob Wilson.

The VP and spokesman for central radio at Erica Smith attorney with the Institute for Justice thanks so much for being here this morning does.

Thank you -- -- the Q Bob it sounds like the business has been hit with a double whammy here let's start with the first one.

This city nor -- wanted to seize that property and give it to Old Dominion University.

What did you make of their first effort to take away that 78 year old business.

Well we don't like -- -- -- believe that it's an illegal taking these they're doing it basically for economic development they're not gonna build a classroom collaborator -- apart.

So in protest what did you do.

Well out of frustration we wanted the general public to know what was going on so we erected a banner on the side of our buildings that told.

The story very simply.

We were.

Long time residents of an awful.

We were good corporate citizens.

We employed a hundred people they get paid good wages.

The spend their money and offer that -- and offered their children go to school and office.

And they pay taxes and off.

So we can see the banner there behind you guys on the side of the building as we said it just spells out your problem.

The issue this city says is that it was 375.

Square.

Feet big.

They stated that violates -- guess a city ordinance Erica is that.

Accuracy is 375.

Feet two big is it breaking the law.

Well that's what the city says this anyone central radio to take down -- sign and replace it with one that's only 17.

Of the current size from 375.

Square feet to sixty square feet.

But -- -- radio did that the -- with no longer be visible to the thousands of drivers have passed central radio everyday.

There's no point having a protest sign if nobody can read it.

-- is this the only sign in the area it's at.

No ma'am not -- a long shot Old Dominion has signs on the university that are as big as ours if not bigger.

But there -- -- throughout the city that are equally as big as ours on various buildings.

Bob correct me if I'm wrong but this feels like.

You're rights are being impinge upon and a big way first your business.

May be seized and then your right to freedom of speech.

Well I agree.

We've we've put the banner up as a protest we figure that is part of our first amendment rights -- its.

It's our duty to protest -- we think our government's wrong.

Erica what do you do here -- fight back against the city.

-- weren't determined to take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to hear what the city is doing is unconstitutional.

And -- absolutely confident that we're going to prevail.

I will keep us posted please we would love to know how this works out for all of you there Bob Wilson Erika Smith thanks so much for -- your story to us.

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