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CNN
7 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
The town wanted his farm for affordable housing. Then came the MAGA storm
Just steps off a busy road, tucked at the end of a gravel driveway within eyeshot of the New Jersey turnpike, a small herd of cows and goats grazes freely in a grassy, open field. It's an unexpected location for a farm, bordered by warehouses and the ever-present roar of cars and trucks, but this property has been in the hands of Andy Henry's family since before the Civil War — his grandfather and mother were born in the white wooden farmhouse next to the pasture. Now, Henry is locked in a fight to preserve the farm in Cranbury, central New Jersey. The township reached out to buy the site for affordable housing and says it's willing to invoke its eminent domain power to seize what it needs if Henry and his brother refuse to make a deal. It's a small property in a small town, but the issue has turned into a lightning rod for MAGA supporters around the country and even attracted the attention of the Trump administration. Fox News and the New York Post picked up the story. Strangers have raised $135,000 online for Henry's legal defense, left a barrage of comments on social media and flooded the town's administrator with calls. 'Our town clerk has forwarded all of us on the township committee dozens and dozens of hateful voicemails,' said Matt Scott, one of the town's five elected representatives. 'You f**king commie, libtards, you know, the f**k do you think you're doing? You're not American, you're just stealing from the taxpayer, you need to give that f**king farm back,' he recounted some of the messages. He said he understood why they are attracting so much attention. 'People are pissed, generally, in the country. They feel like the governing structures are not listening to what they're doing, and something like this comes up. All they hear is that this five Democrat member committee in this town is seizing this hard-working farmer's family legacy. … I think it's an easy target for people.' For Henry, the saga began in April, which he says was the first time he heard Cranbury was interested in the farm. He and his wife received a letter stating the town had identified the property as 'suitable for redevelopment' for affordable housing. 'Certainly, it is always the Township's preference to acquire property by mutual agreement with the property owner,' a lawyer for the town wrote at the time. 'However, when the Township is unable to reach a negotiated agreement with a property owner, the Township is authorized by law to initiate an action with the Court to formally acquire title,' it continued, noting the town would pay 'just compensation' for the land. 'It was a shock,' Henry said. 'Ever since then, we've been pushing back in whatever way we could.' Henry no longer lives on the farm — he hasn't since the '90s. He and his brother, Chris, inherited the property in 2017 when their father died, but both had settled in New Mexico. They now lease out the farmland — those animals out in the pasture, affectionately dubbed 'New Jersey cows' for their love of pizza and bagels, belong to a local farmer. After receiving the letter, Henry returned to Cranbury, where he went before a meeting of the Township Committee later in April — pleading with them to consider alternative sites. Scott, who has served on the committee since 2018, was moved. 'It was a complete mic drop moment,' he said. 'I felt terrible. I was like, wow, I didn't know we were doing this. There has to be another option.' The Henry farm had come to the attention of the township as a deadline approached for Cranbury to lay out its plans for fulfilling its constitutional obligation for affordable housing. It's something every community in the state has to do in accordance with what's called the Mount Laurel doctrine — a series of state supreme court decisions dating back to 1975 that mandates each municipality provide its 'fair share.' Cranbury, with its population of fewer than 4,000 living in about 1,400 households, had to say by June 30 where it would add 265 affordable housing units, to be built over the next 10 years. One plot of land, whose owner was willing to sell, was identified as a site to develop several dozen units. Finding space for the rest, however, proved near impossible. Scott said about 50 properties were evaluated against strict state-mandated criteria, such as sewer, water, proximity to mass transportation, and distance from warehouses. Aside from the Henry farm, one after the other was found unsuitable. Missing the deadline to file the plan would have opened up the community to what is known as 'builder's remedy' — effectively free rein for developers to bypass planning and zoning rules, which could lead to big developments, population increases, and higher taxes — straining town resources and costing residents. 'I feel like I was elected to do the greater good,' Scott said. 'I completely understand how this could be seen as the workings of a heartless, powerful government. But my primary responsibility is to the taxpayers of Cranbury, to the parents of the school kids in Cranbury, and I feel like the greater good is served by making sure that we get this affordable housing built, that we do it without a builder's remedy, and we do it without bankrupting the town.' Despite Henry's pleas, Scott said the committee — which had spent 13 months reviewing sites — had determined 'there was no other option.' In May, the township government voted unanimously to pass an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of the Henry farm 'through voluntary negotiations or through the power of eminent domain' — on the grounds that satisfying the affordable housing obligations is 'in the public interest.' Cranbury might feel like a small town caught up in the rules of the state, but Andy Henry feels he's David fighting the Goliath of government. Neighbors and friends helped him launch a campaign to save the farm, which attracted local and then national attention. Once the story reached a fever pitch, town meetings became tense. Public comment was filled with Henry supporters, who lambasted committee members for their decision. 'It appears jumping to conclusions and villainizing those serving in public offices has become a norm in the US,' Mayor Lisa Knierim said at a town meeting in May. 'Doesn't mean it has to in Cranbury.' The Trump administration also stepped in. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted about the farm on X, saying: '(T)he Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over. While this particular case is a city eminent domain issue, we @usda are exploring every legal option to help.' Henry said he's spoken to her directly, and someone from her team now has a check-in with his lawyer weekly. When Henry, 72, and his brother grew up here in the 1950s, the land was used to farm wheat and soybeans. Back then, the property was surrounded by farmland as far as the eye could see. Now, Cranbury has two distinct parts: next to I-95, much of the area has been rezoned as 'light industrial,' attracting massive warehouse development. There's still local farmland, most of which is across another major road, spreading west from the center of the community founded in the 19th century. The Henry farm is in the more industrial area while most of the agricultural land on the other side is designated 'preserved farmland' that cannot be developed. An affordable housing consultant, speaking on background due to the sensitivity of the situation in Cranbury, told CNN the Henry farm would get a strong score on the state rubric grading how suitable a site is for development into homes. He said a property must come close to perfect to qualify for state funding. One question not being debated here is the need for affordable housing. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition found that New Jersey is over 200,000 units short on affordable housing, and Matthew Desmond, a sociology professor at Princeton University, has noted that when the nearby township of Cherry Hill unveiled 29 affordable apartments in 2021, 9,309 people applied. Mark Berkowsky of Cranbury Housing Associates, a local firm that has been involved in previous affordable housing projects but was not consulted on this plan, told CNN the need in Cranbury specifically is clear, though he disagrees with building on the farm. 'We have a waiting list that is usually about two years for people to get into affordable housing,' he said. Even Andy Henry understands and is sympathetic to the need for housing, though he doesn't think his property should be the location. 'They have to build affordable housing, and we're not opposed to that,' he said. 'It's how much and where.' The plans formally filed with the state show that Cranbury is seeking to buy a little over 11 acres of the 21-acre property. The farmhouse where generations of Henry's forebears grew up would be untouched. Even with that concession, Henry is not interested. 'It would just kind of take away the soul of the farm,' he said, adding no amount of money could get him to sell, though there have been 'countless' offers over the years from developers. 'They just keep going up and up and I'm not trying to negotiate with them, I just say no, there's no plans to sell in the foreseeable future,' Henry said. 'Right away they'll come back, 'So how about if we give you a few million more dollars?' And it's like, 'I'm not trying to negotiate with you, I mean what I said.'' The great hope for both sides seems to be that an as-yet unknown landowner will step up and be interested in having the township buy their property for development, sparing the farm. But for now, the next stages of the battle are taking shape, watched both locally and nationally. Last week, Henry got a letter from the town noting that it would like to schedule an appraisal — the first step in an eminent domain proceeding, to determine the fair market price to be paid if the town forces the sale. For his part, Henry is awaiting a judge's ruling on whether he can add his farm to a preservation order, protecting it from development. Asked why that's not something he'd done before, Henry said: 'We didn't see the threat coming from the town. We knew developers were interested in it; most of them will ask politely and we'll politely say no. We didn't see the town coming.' CNN's Linh Tran contributed to this story.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Florida woman may lose her 1800s house so the state can build a highway using eminent domain. Here's how
A 19th century home in Sanford, Florida that survived hurricanes and a nearly two-mile move to its current spot may soon be bulldozed to make room for a highway. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Officials from the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) are planning to build a two-lane road designed to relieve traffic congestion in Seminole County by connecting State Road 417 and the Orlando Sanford International Airport. But according to news reports from the Tampa Bay Times and WESH 2, the preferred route, known as Alignment 2A, runs straight through the 10-acre property where Becky Burke's home sits — an 1800s-era two-story house that has already been relocated once to escape demolition. A map revealed the road would be 'going through my dining room,' she said. If the plans move forward, the state is expected to use eminent domain to seize the land. But Burke, whose husband Ken passed away in August, may not have the strength to relocate the home all over again. She told WESH 2 it will depend on how much money she's given and how much land the government takes. "I love it out here," she said. "Knowing it was Ken's family, his history, his grandfather passed away here, he passed away here, so there's so much emotion that goes into that piece of what I'm facing." The couple moved the house in 2003 after the original land it sat on was sold to developers. Relocating the structure was no small feat — it took from July to November to complete, just in time for Thanksgiving. "That was quite a feat,' Burke told WESH 2. 'I think I wired every outlet in the house.' That effort preserved more than a structure; it preserved a family's history. "If the legacy ends with me, that's fine, I'm OK with that," she said. "But the emotional loss, it's like, one more thing. One more thing to break my heart, one more thing to make me just feel a little overwhelmed and sad." The new roughly two-mile road has a tentative budget of $200 million. The CFX says it will reduce the number of cars per day on Lake Mary Boulevard by nearly half by 2050. "For those of you who travel in and out of our amazing airport, you know the traffic backs up over there," said Rebekah Arthur, president of the Seminole County Chamber, according to WESH 2. "So this connector is going to be a very needed extension to our airport and will help people come in and out, especially as our sports tourism grows." Read more: No millions? No problem. With as little as $10, here's of diversified assets usually only available to major players According to the Tampa Bay Times, the CFX estimates it will spend $18.3 million for the acquisition of properties along the right-of-way. Eminent domain is a legal process that allows governments to take private property for public use, such as highways or bridges, provided the owner is given 'just compensation.' But just because it's legal doesn't mean it always feels fair. Owners like Burke should expect to be paid market value for their homes, but that may not always cover the full cost of relocation or compensate for the emotional stress. In Florida, property owners have the right to challenge eminent domain in court. They can: Dispute the taking itself: This is an option if property owners believe the land isn't truly needed for a public project. Challenge the compensation amount: If the offered payment doesn't reflect the property's fair market value, owners can argue for a higher fee. Negotiate relocation: Owners can argue that relocation benefits offered are not sufficient. Partial takings: When only part of a property is taken, owners can argue that the impact on the remaining property is not being fairly compensated. If you live or own property in the area, there are steps you can take to have your voice heard. The CFX will hold two public meetings in July where residents can ask questions and voice concerns about the project. Attending those meetings is one of the best ways for impacted homeowners to stay informed, get involved, and advocate for better outcomes — whether that means alternate routes or help preserving historic properties. The Tampa Bay Times says the CFX's governing board — made up of elected officials from the Central Florida region — will then review the project at its October public meeting. As for Burke, the future remains uncertain. 'I'm always the one that's trying to encourage other people and love on them and care for them,' she said. 'And now, I'm in this place where I don't know where God is leading me.' This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Money doesn't have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators fail to override any of Gov. Mills vetoes, so far
The official swearing in ceremony for the 132nd Maine Legislature on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Legislators in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to sustain the five vetoes issued by Gov. Janet Mills so far this session, including a measure that would have prohibited the state from being able to seize tribal land for public use. Before taking up LD 958, House lawmakers debated whether the bill was 'a solution in search of a problem,' as the governor contended, or whether it is a 'fundamental matter regarding sovereign governments,' as Rep. Adam Lee (D-Augusta) put it. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), who sponsored the bill, said he put in the bill 'so the state could not use eminent domain to take other people's property.' He added, 'The needs of society never make it okay to take other people's property.' Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Aaron Dana said that the concern expressed by some of his colleagues that the tribes would block the construction of power lines and highways was unfounded. 'The tribes are still going to allow that, because we need access to those same infrastructures,' he said. 'We just would like to protect and have a stronghold on what 1% of lands we have remaining here in what we call the state of Maine, which was traditionally all Wabanaki Nations' lands at one point.' Ultimately, the House voted 77-63, falling short of the two-thirds of support needed to override a veto. Vetoed legislation only needs to return to the chamber in which it originated, so members of the House also took up LD 1328, which sought to create culturally appropriate and trauma-informed housing recovery residences for underserved or underrepresented individuals. Without discussion, they voted 40-100 against overriding the veto of that bill. The Senate voted 18-14 to sustain Mills' veto of legislation (LD 588) that would have protected the right of farmworkers to discuss working conditions. Mills' veto of LD 1802, which would have created a statutory right to counsel at state expense for indigent defendants because there is a risk upon conviction that the accused may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment, was also sustained in the Senate by a vote of 3-28. The Senate then voted 16-16 to override the governor's veto of legislation (LD 1731) that would require the state ferry service to consult with an advisory board on matters related to the service, budget, strategic planning and major operational decisions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Family outraged by lawmakers' plans to seize farm they've owned since 1850 to turn it into affordable housing
A New Jersey family is fighting against lawmakers trying to seize the farm they have owned for 175 years to use the land for affordable housing. Andy and Christopher Henry were shocked by a letter that said local officials want to take all 21 acres of their family's historic farmland in Cranbury on April 24. Since receiving the unsettling news that the property - which has been in their family since 1850 - may be torn from them against their will, the Henrys have found themselves in an unbearable back and forth with the Cranbury Township Committee. 'Ever since then, we've been pushing back,' Andy concernedly told Fox News. 'And now they're saying, "Well, actually, we'll just take half of it and leave the house." That would leave us with a non-viable farm for at least 40 cows and many sheep.' The proposal only requires 11.58 acres of the farm, My Central Jersey reported. It consists of 130 apartments across six buildings, as well as a community center and an open space. The attempted seizure of the farm is a part of an affordable housing plan the township committee rolled out, which allows officials to use eminent domain to assume the land. Eminent domain means the government is allowed to take over land without the owner's consent. The committee's decision stems from a state mandate that every town must build more than 146,000 affordable houses by 2035, reported. Andy and his family have refused several developer offers over the years, so the possibility of the land being taken from them anyway is more than disheartening. 'It makes me feel terrible,' Andy told Fox News. 'We just wanted to be left alone and take care of our place like my ancestors did before us.' But the Henrys are not alone in their battle to keep what's theirs - with the Cranbury community and the Trump administration rallying behind them. Signs throughout the quiet town read 'Save Andy's Family Farm 150+ Years No Eminent Domain.' Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has spoken out about the situation, declaring the 'Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over,' on X Thursday evening. 'I urge the Cranbury, NJ Town Council to REJECT this proposal tonight.' Rollins directly spoke with Andy to show her support last week. 'While this particular case is a city eminent domain issue, we at [US Department of Agriculture] USDA are exploring every legal option to help,' she said in a statement. On Tuesday evening, Andy addressed the Cranbury Planning Board at a meeting, declaring he filed a lawsuit against them. 'Please don't let Cranbury join the ever-growing list of municipalities making these ill-informed and catastrophic decisions,' told the board after citing examples of eminent domain seizures that he also deemed unjust. 'We have filed a complaint with the Superior Court of New Jersey to stop this effort.' A GoFundMe titled 'Save Andy's Family Farm – A 150-Year Legacy at Risk,' has been created by passionate community members and has already raised more than $123,100 for Andy's legal defense. 'If you've ever taken South River Road on your way to the NJ Turnpike, you've passed it—that beautiful, peaceful stretch of farmland where cows graze and sheep roam under open skies. That's Andy's farm,' fundraiser organizer Karen Herr DeRosa wrote. 'Andy turned down every offer to sell. Developers dangled money—even above market value—but Andy said no. The community has been rallying behind Andy and his family as they battle for their land 'Because you don't sell your family's story. You don't bulldoze your roots.' DeRosa claimed the township 'had other options' than to go after the Henry's farm, which she described as 'the oldest, most loved, most recognized land in town.' 'This isn't just a battle for one farm. It's a stand against a system that sees land as dollar signs instead of heritage.' Cranbury Mayor Lisa Knierim previously defended the township's decision to go after the farm. 'Sometimes those decisions affect a smaller group, but it is for the long-term strength of our community,' she said, My Central Jersey reported. 'Sometimes those decisions come with strong emotional reactions as this one is evoking. 'It does not mean that this was an easy decision, but it is one that was done with an extraordinary amount of diligence which is what all of Cranbury deserves.
Fox News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Owner of 175-year-old farm 'shocked' as New Jersey town tries to seize land for affordable housing
A 175-year-old family farm in New Jersey is fighting to stay afloat as its co-owner is speaking out against efforts by the local government to seize the land for affordable Henry discussed his and his brother Christopher's historic farm in Cranbury, New Jersey, and how they are fighting back against the eminent domain initiative during "Fox & Friends.""We got a letter on April 24 informing us of this unfortunate decision that they [Cranbury officials] wanted to take the entire 21 acres," Henry said on Wednesday. "So, of course, ever since then, we've been pushing back. And now they're saying, 'Well, actually, we'll just take half of it and leave the house.' That would leave us with a non-viable farm for at least 40 cows and many sheep." The Cranbury Township Committee announced an affordable housing plan that will allow local officials to seize the Henry family farm through an eminent domain seizure. This stems from a New Jersey mandate ordering that towns in the state build more than 146,00 affordable housing units by 2035, according to a report. "It makes me feel terrible," Henry said. "It was a shock. We are surrounded by warehouses, been turning down developers for years. We just wanted to be left alone and take care of our place like my ancestors did before us." The Henry family bought the farm in 1850 and have turned down developers for years in an effort to keep the property in the family. "Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt asked Henry what the farm property meant to his family, whose descendants had owned the land since before the Civil War. He remarked that it symbolized much more than just his family, but the entire Cranbury community as a whole. "It's a part of our legacy, and I've said it's part of the town of Cranbury, too," Henry said. "It's a historic farm which helped the town to grow. I mean, you couldn't go to a grocery store then; the farmers were providing the food directly around the town." Cranbury residents have shown strong support for the Henrys. A GoFundMe created to help the family pay for legal costs has raised over $100,000 as of June 26. The case has also attracted the Trump administration's attention. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took notice of the Henrys' land battle earlier this month, writing in an X post that "the Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over," and that the USDA is "exploring every legal option" in aiding this particular case and similar ones across the United States.
