Eminent Domain and Public Use | Taking Poletown

In the early 1980s, General Motors found the perfect place to build a new factory in Detroit. That meant much needed jobs, economic development, and prosperity. The only problem was an entire neighborhood stood in the way. Our film Taking Poletown explores the battle between the neighborhood known as "Poletown" and the city of Detroit, along with General Motors, over the power and purpose of using eminent domain to transfer private property for "public use."

Looking back 30 years later after two Michigan Supreme Court cases and a Michigan constitutional amendment, what lessons can we learn?

In this episode of the FedSoc Films Podcasts we’ll revisit some of the issues discussed in the film while diving deeper into the Court case that came after the Poletown case called County of Wayne v. Hathcock. And to do this, we’ve invited Professor John Mogk, a distinguished law professor from Wayne State University in Michigan, an expert on the topic of eminent domain—especially in Michigan, and of course, Professor Mogk was also featured in our film, Taking Poletown.


Thanks again for listening to the FedSoc Films Podcast! Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.

Watch the full film Taking Poletown: A Community’s Fight Over Economic Justice & Eminent Domain on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaoessbpIIc

Click here to learn more about Professor John Mogk: https://law.wayne.edu/profile/ac4871



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