A New Jersey family is embroiled in a battle to preserve their 175-year-old farm from being seized by local authorities, with support now coming from the Trump administration.
The Cranbury city government has declared its intention to acquire the 21-acre farm through eminent domain, aiming to construct low-income housing on the site. However, the Henry family, who owns the farm, is determined to resist this move.
As reported by The Blaze, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the federal government would intervene in support of the Henry family. Rollins stated, "On the phone with Andy Henry of Highland Ranch in Cranbury, NJ. The city govt has approved seizing his 175-year-old family farm via eminent domain for affordable housing units."
She further emphasized, "Whether the Maudes, the Henrys or others whom we will soon announce, the Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over." Rollins assured that while the issue at hand is a city-level eminent domain matter, the USDA is actively exploring all legal avenues to assist.
Andy Henry, the farm's owner, has reportedly turned down numerous multimillion-dollar offers for the property. "Didnt matter how much money we were offered," Henry stated. "We saved the farm no matter what. We turned down all the offers to preserve the legacy for our family, city, and even state." This steadfast commitment to maintaining the farm's legacy underscores the family's dedication to their heritage and the broader community.
In April, the Cranbury Township Committee issued a letter to Henry, presenting him with the ultimatum of accepting an offer or facing the farm's seizure through eminent domain. This governmental power, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that its scope has been improperly expanded to include actions that indirectly benefit the government through increased tax revenues.
Henry remains resolute in his fight against the township's plans, declaring, "My family sacrificed on this land for 175 years. All the other farms disappeared. We did not. We will not."
His determination to contest the eminent domain action at every turn reflects a broader concern over government overreach and the preservation of individual property rights. As the situation unfolds, the Henry family's struggle highlights the ongoing debate over eminent domain and its implications for American landowners.
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