For most American citizens, owning a home is as American as apple pie. But how many people know that under a legal clause called “eminent domain” the government can take your property?

For my father in-law, Mehdi Pahlevani, this question has come to encompass his life. After working hard for three decades, Mehdi Pahlevani and his wife Minoo purchased 11 acres in Ashburn, Virginia, where Mehdi got to work building his family a dream home -- one that was supposed to provide even his grandchildren with a piece of earth they could call their own.This dream home has ironically grown into their greatest source of despair.

Today, Loudoun County, Kincora Development, & Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are threatening to destroy this home the Pahlevanis invested their entire lives into. VDOT is building a connector road in the area, and it plans to use eminent domain to cut through 4 acres of the Pahlevani property, drastically devaluing the residence and upsetting their way of life.

We must implore VDOT and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors not to destroy the Pahlevanis’ hard-won slice of the American dream. We must demand that they move the road to keep it off the Pahlevani property.

The road would run 100 feet from the Pahlevani house. The noise and air pollution alone could be too much for them to bear, but selling it probably isn’t an option now, as no one wants a property with a county road running through it.

For eight years, Mehdi has spent most of his time, effort, and money trying to save his home, to no avail. It has caused him great anguish and stress, and he worries it is affecting his health. He says he feels helpless and hopeless.

In many ways, what is happening to Mehdi’s family is a warning to other Americans. Mehdi’s fate is intertwined with our own because at the core of his struggle is a fight to preserve the American dream. In his words -- “owning a home is one of the most important American pillars. Why would the County & the Virginia Department of Transportation want to destroy this?”

In choosing the path for this road, the County and VDOT has opted to satisfy commercial entities over the average tax-paying citizen. Please sign my petition urging them to change their course, and save the American dream.