The Henry farmhouse, back when. Still here… for now.
Are we still in America?
When I was a reporter in the 1970s, the news was inundated with court-ordered seizures of private property to make room for (LOL) “affordable housing.” What a load of bunk that was! But imagine my horror when I discovered they’re still doing it.
In Cranbury, New Jersey (https://www.nj.com/news/2025/06/trump-administration-joins-bitter-fight-to-block-nj-town-from-seizing-175-year-old-family-farm.html). Farming country.
Now owned by Chris and Andy Henry, it’s been a farm for 175 years. Now the town wants to carve it up for “affordable housing.” I put quote marks around that because in my experience that housing NEVER turned out to be “affordable.”
Yeahbut, yeahbut! It’s Eminent Domain! This legal theory allows the government to grab your property.
The good news is that President Trump’s U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has pledged itself to help save the Henry farm.
Oh, how many times did I interview local government officials who were tearing their hair out because they couldn’t stop this stuff! They tried everything; but the NJ Supreme Court’s infamous (can I say that? My dander’s up) Mount Laurel decision tied their hands.
Maybe the federal government can do better. I sincerely hope so.
Jersey judges feed predatory developers. And the state looks it.
Thank goodness that they are fighting back.
I knew many local politicians who tried as hard as they could to protect their towns and townships. It’s a great shame that the state and the courts never listened to them.
Obama pushed for equity in housing developments so high-end homes would be nest to high-rise affordable housing. History will not be kind to Obama’s legacy, and rightly so.
Obummer was a disgrace to his office.