Good responses -- but do bear in mind that the city council(s) is/are expropriating privately-owned houses for other private owners. There is no objection to expropriation for a highway, etc. -- that's legal. But if my city tries to force me to sell my house so a condo can be put up on the lot, that's illegal, IMO. The cities are rationalizing disgusting behaviour.

Someone asked about group lawsuit -- I think that is one way to go, and see my third link in the maiden post, castlecoalition. The other way that some neighbourhoods are handling it is by getting up petitions to force a referendum.

But these ordinary people shouldn't have to take these actions. Many of them are retired, and just want what they've earned.