While I was shopping today, I stumbled upon a destruction/construction site. I started poking around, trying to figure out what is being built and more interestingly, what was being torn down. I noticed the piles of stones, pipes, and metal beams that were used to support the wrecked building.

As I walked around the enclosed construction site, I saw a sign that explained the whole situation. It was the death of a United Rentals building. I have never noticed it until now. It's one of those things that you don't miss until it's gone. The sign read,"Moving to Our Van Nuys Location. Eminent Domain has forced us to move to Van Nuys United Rentals." I sensed a hint of bitterness in the sign. There was another sign that announced that the location will be the future site of the new West Los Angeles Animal Services Center.

Seeing the destruction of United Rentals prompted me to question if we truly own anything. I found out that under the United States Constitution, the government can take and use property for public purpose. In exchange for the land, the government provides landowners "just compensation" for the property. According to the sign, this is what happened with United Rentals.

It saddened me to see the destruction.